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Summary Environmental management notes for as and a level
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Environmental management notes for as Cambridge students.
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Environmental Management notes (AS)Chapter 1 (into to EM)
1.2) Income groups world bank uses:
1. LIC
2. MIC
3. HIC
1.3) Sustainability – ability to meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generaDons to
meet their own needs.
Need for sustainable management of resources:
1. Environmental ConservaDon: With the increasing human populaDon there is a growing strain on natural
resources such as water, air, forests, and minerals. Sustainable management ensures that these resources are
used responsibly, prevenDng their depleDon and minimising polluDon and environmental degradaDon.
2. Climate Change decreasing: Unsustainable resource management pracDces contribute to greenhouse gas
emissions, deforestaDon, and other factors that exacerbate climate change. Sustainable management aims to
reduce these impacts and promote acDons that miDgate climate change and adapt to its consequences.
3. Social Equity and JusDce: Sustainable resource management recognises the importance of meeDng the needs of
present and future generaDons. It ensures that resources are distributed equitably, allowing everyone access to
essenDal resources like clean water, food, and energy, while safeguarding the rights and well-being of
marginalized communiDes.
4. Economic Stability and Resilience: Sustainable resource management fosters long-term economic stability by
opDmizing resource use and minimizing waste. It promotes the development of renewable energy sources,
sustainable agriculture, and green industries, leading to economic diversificaDon, job creaDon, and reduced
dependence on finite resources.
5. Biodiversity ConservaDon: Many resources are derived from ecosystems and biodiversity. Unsustainable
resource extracDon and habitat destrucDon lead to the loss of species and ecosystems, disrupDng ecological
balance and reducing the potenDal benefits derived from them. Sustainable management strives to protect
biodiversity, enabling the persistence of essenDal ecological services and sustaining the planet's natural heritage.
Long-term Planning and Risk Management: Sustainable resource management involves assessing and planning for
potenDal risks and uncertainDes, such as resource scarcity, climate-related disasters, and other environmental threats. It
encourages measures to build resilience, adapt to changing condiDons, and ensure the availability of resources for future
generaDons.
,Overall, the need for sustainable resource management is driven by the understanding that our acDons have long-term
consequences on the environment, society, and economy. By adopDng sustainable pracDces, we can ensure the well-being
of present and future generaDons and protect the planet's ecosystems and resources for conDnued prosperity.
1.4)
1. Evaporation: the process in which liquid water turns into vapour, the opposite of condensation
2. Condensation: the process in which water vapour turns in to liquid water, the
opposite of evaporation
3. Precipitation: the process in which liquid water (as rain) or ice particles (as
snow or hail) fall to Earth due to gravity
4. Transpiration: the movement of water up plants and its subsequent loss as
water vapour from their leaves
5. Surface run-off: the process by which water runs over the ground into rivers
6. Interception: the process by which precipitation is stopped from reaching the
ground surface by the presence of trees and other plants
7. Infiltration: the process by which water seeps into the ground
8. Groundwater flow: the process by which infiltrated water
9. Through flow: the process by which infiltrated water flows through the soil
1.5) Major components of the earth’s atmosphere:
• Nitrogen
• O2
• CO2
• Argon
• H2O vapor
Earth’s atmosphere divided into 4 primary layers:
1. Troposphere- Temperature decreases with height (averaging 6.4 °C km-1), because the warming effect of the
Earth's surface through conduction and convection diminishes as altitude increases. The strength of the Earth's
gravitational pull declines with altitude, and pressure declines too. In contrast, wind speeds increase with height.
The top of this layer is marked by the tropopause, where temperatures remain fairly constant. This boundary
occurs at a height of about 8 km at the poles and 17 km in the tropics, and marks the upper limit to the Earth's
weather and climate.
, 2. Stratosphere- This layer extends to nearly 50 km above
the Earth's surface. Pressure continues to fall but
temperatures increase steadily with height. This situation
is called a temperature inversion and is caused by the
concentration of ozone, which absorbs the incoming
ultraviolet radiation from the Sun. This layer also acts as a
shield against incoming meteorites, which burn out when
they enter the Earth's gravitational field. The upper limit
of the stratosphere is marked by the stratopause.
3. Mesosphere- This layer is 50–50 km in height. Pressure
continues to decrease and temperatures fall rapidly to
below -80 °C because there is no water vapour, dust or
ozone to absorb the incoming short-wave radiation. Winds
can reach speeds up to 3000 km h-1. The mesopause
marks the upper limit of this layer.
4. Thermosphere- This layer is 80–80 km in height and
temperatures rise rapidly to as high as 1500 °C because of
the absorption of ultraviolet radiation by atomic oxygen.
The thermopause marks the upper limit of this layer.
Tropopause: the upper limit of the troposphere Temperature inversion: when temperatures increase with altitude
Stratopause: the upper limit of the stratosphere, temperatures remain constant in this boundary layer
Mesopause: the upper limit of the mesosphere, temperatures remain constant in this boundary layer
Thermopause: the upper limit of the thermosphere, temperatures remain constant in this boundary layer
• Ozone layer located within stratosphere.
The ozone layer is a region of Earth's stratosphere, It contains a relaDvely high concentraDon of ozone (O3), which is a
molecule composed of three oxygen atoms. The ozone layer plays a crucial role in protecDng life on Earth by absorbing and
filtering out most of the Sun's harmful ultraviolet (UV) radiaDon.
o The formaDon and maintenance of the ozone layer are mainly due to the interacDon of solar ultraviolet radiaDon
with molecular oxygen (O2) in the stratosphere. This interacDon leads to the creaDon of ozone through a series of
complex chemical reacDons. Ozone molecules are naturally formed and broken down in a delicate balance within
this region of the atmosphere.
o The ozone layer can be divided into two main parts: the "good" ozone and the "bad" ozone.
1. Good Ozone (STRATOSPHERE) : Most of the ozone in the stratosphere is considered "good" ozone. It absorbs the majority
of the Sun's harmful UV-B and UV-C radiaDon, prevenDng these high-energy rays from reaching the Earth's surface. UV
radiaDon can cause DNA damage, skin cancer, cataracts, and other harmful effects on living organisms. The ozone layer acts
as a protecDve shield against these harmful rays.
2. Bad Ozone ( TROOPSPHERE) : At lower alDtudes, near the Earth's surface, there is another type of ozone called "bad"
ozone, or ground-level ozone. This ozone is not emihed directly into the atmosphere but is formed as a result of chemical
reacDons between precursor pollutants, such as nitrogen oxides (NOx) and volaDle organic compounds (VOCs), in the
presence of sunlight. Ground-level ozone is a major component of smog and can have harmful effects on human health,
causing respiratory issues, aggravaDng asthma, and affecDng crop yields.
In recent decades, the depleDon of the ozone layer has been a concern due to the release of man-made chemicals called
chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and other ozone-depleDng substances (ODS) into the atmosphere. These substances can lead to
the breakdown of ozone molecules, parDcularly in the AntarcDc region, resulDng in the formaDon of the so-called "ozone
hole."
The ozone layer is a vital component of Earth's atmosphere that protects life on the planet by absorbing and filtering out
harmful UV radiaDon from the Sun.
, The ozone layer's role in absorbing ultraviolet (UV) radiaDon is crucial for protecDng life on Earth from the harmful effects
of excessive UV exposure. The process through which the ozone layer absorbs UV radiaDon involves complex interacDons
between ozone molecules and incoming solar energy.
How the ozone layer absorbs UV radiaDon:
1. UV RadiaDon: The Sun emits a wide range of electromagneDc radiaDon, including visible light, infrared radiaDon, and UV
radiaDon. UV radiaDon is divided into three main categories: UV-A, UV-B, and UV-C, based on their wavelengths. UV-C has
the shortest wavelengths and is the most energeDc, while UV-A has the longest wavelengths and is less energeDc.
2. AbsorpDon: As solar UV radiaDon penetrates the Earth's atmosphere, some of it encounters the ozone layer in the
stratosphere. Ozone molecules (O3) are parDcularly effecDve at absorbing UV-B and UV-C radiaDon due to their molecular
structure. When UV radiaDon interacts with an ozone molecule, it can cause the molecule to split into an oxygen molecule
(O2) and a single oxygen atom (O). This process is known as photodissociaDon or photolysis.
3. Ozone DepleDon: During the process of absorbing UV radiaDon, ozone molecules are broken down into oxygen molecules
and oxygen atoms. However, these oxygen atoms can react with other ozone molecules to form new ozone molecules, thus
replenishing the ozone layer in a balanced cycle. This dynamic equilibrium helps maintain the concentraDon of ozone
molecules in the stratosphere.
4. ProtecDon from Harmful UV: The energy from absorbed UV radiaDon is converted into heat as ozone molecules are
broken down and reformed. This conversion of UV energy into heat helps prevent most of the harmful UV-B and UV-C
radiaDon from reaching the Earth's surface. UV-A radiaDon, which has longer wavelengths and is less energeDc, is not as
effecDvely absorbed by the ozone layer but sDll contributes to various natural processes and some UV exposure at the
surface.
5. Human Health and Ecosystem ProtecDon: Without the ozone layer's protecDve role, higher levels of UV radiaDon would
reach the surface, leading to increased rates of skin cancer, cataracts, weakened immune systems, and other health issues
in humans. AddiDonally, UV radiaDon can have detrimental effects on aquaDc ecosystems, plants, and wildlife.
While the ozone layer is effecDve at absorbing a significant amount of UV radiaDon, it does not completely block all UV
radiaDon from reaching the surface. Therefore, taking precauDons such as using sunscreen, wearing protecDve clothing,
and avoiding excessive sun exposure during peak UV hours remains essenDal to minimize the risks associated with UV
radiaDon exposure.
The natural greenhouse effect is a criDcal and natural process that helps maintain Earth's ambient temperature within a
range conducive to supporDng life. It involves the interacDons between certain gases in the Earth's atmosphere and the
Sun's incoming solar radiaDon. Here's an outline of the key components and processes of the natural greenhouse effect:
How the natural greenhouse effect mains the earths ambient temp:
1. Solar RadiaDon Input:
- The Sun emits a broad spectrum of electromagneDc radiaDon, including visible light, ultraviolet (UV) radiaDon, and
infrared (IR) radiaDon.
- Solar radiaDon travels through space and reaches Earth's atmosphere.
2. Atmospheric AbsorpDon:
- A porDon of incoming solar radiaDon is absorbed by the Earth's surface, warming it.
- The Earth's surface then re-emits energy in the form of longer-wavelength infrared radiaDon (heat).
3. Greenhouse Gases:
- Certain gases in the Earth's atmosphere, known as greenhouse gases (GHGs), have the property of absorbing and re-
emikng infrared radiaDon.
- Common greenhouse gases include carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), water vapor (H2O), nitrous oxide (N2O), and
ozone (O3).
4. Infrared AbsorpDon and Emission:
- Greenhouse gases in the atmosphere absorb a porDon of the infrared radiaDon emihed by the Earth's surface.
- Upon absorpDon, greenhouse gases become energized and re-emit this energy in all direcDons, including back toward
the Earth's surface.
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