What is Environment? | Types, Definition, Structure, Function & Facts
What is the Environment?
Environment is everything around us. It may be living or non-living things. All of our surroundings, including air, soil, water, plants and animals, make up the environment.
Biomes and Ecosystems
Plants and animals need a healthy environment to survive. An ecosystem is an area where living organisms interact in specific ways with the local environment in order to survive. When ecosystems are destroyed by humans, some living things may not survive. A biome is a large group of ecosystems similar to deserts, savannas, and rainforests.
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- Biomes and Ecosystems
- Desert
- Grasslands
- Savanna
- Tundra
- Tropical Rainforest
- Temperate Forest
- Taiga Forest
- Marine
- Freshwater
- Coral Reef
What is Environmental Science?
Environmental science is the study of the environment and how the earth works. Environmental scientists often study how humans have impacted the Earth’s environment and how we can reduce our impact on the environment.
Environmental scientists study things like the atmosphere, oceans, geology, habitats, and ecosystems.
Nutrient Cycles
The environment of the earth continuously recycles nutrients so that they can be used by different parts of the environment. These cycles are very important for the survival of living things. Some of the important cycles include the water cycle, the nitrogen cycle, the carbon cycle, the oxygen cycle, and the food chain.
- Food Chain and Web
- Carbon Cycle
- Oxygen Cycle
- Water Cycle
- Nitrogen Cycle
Environmental Issues
Human activities have created many environmental problems due to soil, water and air pollution. Part of environmental science is identifying how the environment has been affected and then figuring out ways to help it recover.
Land Pollution
Air Pollution
Water Pollution
Ozone Layer
Recycling
Global Warming
Renewable Energy
Renewable energy is an important aspect of helping to restore the environment. Renewable energy uses an inexhaustible source of energy. Instead of burning fossil fuels like coal and oil, renewable energy uses energy sources like wind and solar.
Renewable Energy
Biomass Energy
Geothermal Energy
Hydropower
Solar Power
Wave and Tidal Energy
Wind Power
Other Subjects
Other topics that may be of interest when studying the environment include:
- Atmosphere
- Climate
- Weather
- Erosion
- Ocean Waves and Currents
- Ocean Tides
- Ice Age
- Forest Fires
Interesting Facts about the Environment
In 2014, the United States produced about 258 million tons of waste. About 89 million tons of this waste has been recycled or composted.
By recycling 89 million tons of waste, carbon dioxide emissions were reduced by 181 million tons.
In 2015, about 67% of electricity generated in the United States came from the burning of fossil fuels, including coal, natural gas, and oil.
About 20% of the electricity produced in the United States comes from nuclear power plants.
If you could harness the energy of all the sunlight hitting the Earth for one hour, you would have enough energy to power the world for a year.
The most polluted city in the United States is Los Angeles, California. About 40% of rivers and lakes in the United States are too polluted for fishing or swimming.
Water pollution is often the result of soil pollution or air pollution that is transferred to lakes, oceans, and rivers when it rains.
The ozone layer helps protect us from the sun’s cancerous rays. The ozone layer has been damaged by chemicals called chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs).