SLO s / Class Goals 2/6/2012 WELCOME TO ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE 10 (ES 10) Spring 2012 David Schwartz, Sue Holt and Christa Fink

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1 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE 10: The scientific study of our environment as well as our role in it. WELCOME TO ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE 10 (ES 10) Spring 2012 David Schwartz, Sue Holt and Christa Fink Environmental scientists use the scientific method to study processes and systems in the environment in which we live. An interdisciplinary study that examines the role of humans on the earth. ES 10 is a physical, biological and social science. We will focus on information from a variety of disciplines. Topics include: economics, population biology, ecosystems, biodiversity, biochemistry and the chemistry of pollution, geological processes, oceanography, natural resources and climatology. ES 10 will also include an analysis of how human behavior and institutions affect the environment. SLO s / Class Goals Evaluate local and global environmental resources and processes. Explain the scientific laws and methods for investigating environmental phenomena and understanding human-environment interactions. Describe many important environmental problems, analyze their causes and investigate possible short and/or long term solutions. Cunningham (Chap 1) lists the following as persistent environmental problems: Clean water Food Supplies Energy Resources Climate Change Air Quality Biodiversity Loss Marine Resources (food supplies, biodiversity loss) 1

2 Air Pollution Global climate change Stratospheric ozone Urban air pollution Acid deposition Outdoor pollutants Indoor pollutants Noise Water Pollution Sediment Nutrient overload Toxic chemicals Infectious agents Oxygen Pesticides Oil spills Excess heat Biodiversity Depletion Habitat destruction Habitat degradation Extinction Introduced Species Major Environmental Problems Waste Production Solid waste Hazardous waste Food Supply Problems Overgrazing Farmland loss and degradation Wetlands loss and degradation Overfishing Coastal pollution Soil erosion Soil salinization Soil waterlogging Water shortages Groundwater Loss of biodiversity Poor nutrition A few details are missing from both lists.. Think about things we do to the environment VS things the environment does to us. Air Pollution Global climate change Stratospheric ozone Urban air pollution Acid deposition Outdoor pollutants Indoor pollutants Noise Water Pollution Sediment Nutrient overload Toxic chemicals Infectious agents Oxygen Pesticides Oil spills Excess heat Biodiversity Depletion Habitat destruction Habitat degradation Extinction Introduced Species OTHER Environmental Problems Waste Production Solid waste Hazardous waste Geologic Hazards / Natural Disasters Earthquakes Tsunamis Mass Wasting Volcanism Hurricanes Flooding Coastal Erosion / Sea Level Rise Wetland loss Erosion / soil loss Fires Air Pollution Global climate change Stratospheric ozone Urban air pollution Acid deposition Outdoor pollutants Indoor pollutants Noise Water Pollution Sediment Nutrient overload Toxic chemicals Infectious agents Oxygen Pesticides Oil spills Excess heat Biodiversity Depletion Habitat destruction Habitat degradation Extinction Introduced Species Major Environmental Problems Waste Production Solid waste Hazardous waste Geologic Hazards / Natural Disasters Earthquakes Tsunamis Mass Wasting Volcanism Hurricanes Flooding Coastal Erosion / Sea Level Rise Wetland loss Erosion / soil loss Fires Plastic and debris in the world s oceans 2

3 Japan Earthquake & Tsunami March 11, 2011 Tsunami Characteristics Capitola California March 11, Chile Prince William Sound, Alaska Northern Sumatra Indian Ocean Near the East Coast of Honshu, Japan Kamchatka Offshore Maule, Chile

4 DART = Deep-Ocean Assessment and Reporting of Tsunamis Earthquake activity in Japan from 1990 to 2011 Tsunami Warning Area 4

5 What NOT to do during a tsunami warning. Beach in northeastern Japan on March 11, 2011 Odaka district in Minamisoma in Fukushima Prefecture, Top: beach before tsunami Center and Bottom: beach being hit by third wave of the tsunami (AP Photo/Sadatsugu Tomisawa) 5

6 A view of flooding and destruction in Natori city, Miyagi prefecture, Saturday, after a tsunami was unleashed by an 8.9 quake. A fishing boat sits amongst debris of houses and cars in Natori, Miyagi Prefecture, Japan. 6

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8 Japan-earthquake-tsunami-debris-floating-US- West-Coast Crescent City, California Floating Debris Heading Toward US West Coast 8

9 Seacliff State Beach, Aptos, CA 9