Environmental Science 105

Macomb Community College

Office: South Campus

Email: the instructor will assign an email address

Phone: 810-445-7110

First Day Handout For EVS 105 - Spring 2002

COURSE DESCRIPTION

Description as it appears in the college catalog:

EVS 105 Environmental Science 4 Semester Hr. Prerequisite: none. This interdisciplinary science course is a study of environmental problems and alternative solutions to these problems. The integral nature of all parts of the environment as well as specific environmental problems are stressed. Such topics as man and his relationship to the environment, energy resources limitations, land use, water and air pollution are included. (4 contact hr.)

REQUIRED MATERIALS TEXT: Environmental Science, Bernard Nebel & Richard Wright • #2 Pencil

THE COURSE

Environmental Science 105 identifies the fundamental components of our environment and the problems resulting from our interaction. In order to fully present these problems and interactions this course is taught by two instructors one with a strong background in the physical sciences and the other with a strong background in the biological sciences. Each instructor will be with you for eight weeks and will focus the instruction from their viewpoint. This requires you to acquire a fundamental understanding of the scientific concepts of the environment and problem solving techniques. It is therefore extremely important that you attend class having read the assigned material so that you can obtain the most from this experience.

COURSE REQUIREMENTS

Your grade for the physical science portion will be based on the following:

1. Two Examination(s)

2. Film Summaries

3. Application Report(s)

4. Discussion / Attendance

Examinations

The examinations are designed from concepts, examples and problems presented in the textbook, and the instructors lecture. They will be of a forced choice format with the possibility of an essay question.

Make-up exams will be allowed only for excused absences. An excused absence is one where the instructor has been notified in advance or a legitimate, documented excuse is provided. The date on the excuse must match the date of the class missed.

Film Summaries

1. The "Films" assignment consists of summaries and analysis of films used in class.

2. Typing the summaries is required. Each summary must begin on a new page.

3. The length of an entry is totally dependent upon your ability to clearly communicate. Each summary contains two parts. (each part should be a labeled paragraph)

• summary or outline of the entire film.

• your analysis of the film.

4. A Title page containing Your Name, Course, Section Number, and Student Number.

5. A table of contents including page number and title of the film.

6. Your “notes” taken while viewing the film will be certified. These certifications are an indication of your attendance during the film. These certifications must be included in an appendix located at the end of this assignment.

Application Report

Read the application, perform the indicated application and develop it into section three of the Seminar Report (Application Project). For each application include:

a. The activity or data sheet provided.

b. Summary of activity related to the seminar.

Attendance

Your Instructor views your attendance an extremely important part of this course. Your involvement in class discussions promotes your understanding of environmental sciences.

Attendance will be taken most class periods. You will be asked to sign-in on a attendance sheet next to your student number. If you sign-in in the wrong student number it could be considered an absence.

No late work is accepted although make-up exams will be allowed only for excused absences. An excused absence is one where the instructor has been notified in advance or a legitimate, documented excuse is provided. The date on the excuse must match the date of the class missed. All assignments must be turned in on the date indicated.

Discussion

Your instructor expects you to be an active participant in this class. This means in addition to expressing your personal opinions and views you should be able to discuss the concepts presented in your text since your instructor will call on you during class expecting your participation.

GRADE CALCULATION

Use the following procedure to calculate your final average. Use the grading scale below to determine your final grade.

1. Examinations 40%

3. Film Summaries 15%

4. Application Reports 40%

5. Attendance 5%

Course Grading Scale: For active students completing the course

90 - 100 A

80 - 89 B

70 - 79 C

60 - 69 D

00 - 59 E

BEHAVIOR Your behavior can result in your being dropped from the course and assigned the letter grade of E. This behavior includes cheating or copying of any assignments, talking during tests, or any behavior that interferes with the attainment of our stated course goals.

Syllabus For Environmental Science 105

Be Prepared For The Assignment on The Date Indicated

Class Topic Chapter

1. Course Introduction / Our Physical Environment - Planet Earth

Energy Application - Electrical Production In Your Community

2. Energy - Matter and Energy, Laws of Conservation and Nuclear--------------------------------------------- 13

3. Energy - Renewable Resources------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 15

4. Energy - Nonrenewable Energy Resources--------------------------------------------------------------------------- 14

Water Resources Application - Home Water Usage Analysis

5. Hydrosphere - water utilization --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 9

6. Hydrosphere - Earth's water reservoirs

7. Hydrosphere - the water cycle

8. Hydrosphere - Resources - Water pollution----------------------------------------------------------------------- 18

9. Examination ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Approximately February 6

Atmosphere Application - The Billion Pound Diet

10. Atmosphere - origin and structure, temperature, weather and climate -------------------------------------- 21

11. Atmosphere -Air pollution ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 22

Earth Structure and Solid Waste Application - Solid Waste Analysis

12. Lithosphere - origin and structure and the rock cycle---------------------------------------------------------- 5.4

13. Lithosphere - natural hazards

14. Lithosphere - plate tectonics, Minerals and Soil

15. Solid and Hazardous Waste (Film Summaries Due) ------------------------------------------------------------ 19

16. Examination ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- March 8

Objectives – Discussion Questions

Matter and Energy

1. Name the forms or states, of matter. Describe how matter is useful as a resource.

2. Identify physical and chemical changes, and describe how matter changes from one physical or chemical form to another.

3. State and explain two scientific laws that describes how energy changes from one form to another.

4. Explain “end use”, and “total use” energy and how they apply to different sources of energy.

5. Explain how we can evaluate present and future energy alternatives and identify the best energy options for future use in the U.S.

6. List the advantages and disadvantages of improving energy efficiency, and how to reduce unnecessary energy waste.

7. List the advantages and disadvantages of capturing and using solar energy for heating building, and water for producing electricity.

8. List the advantages and disadvantages of using flowing water for producing electricity.

9. List the advantages and disadvantages for using wind to produce electricity.

10. List the advantages and disadvantages of burning plants and organic waste for heating buildings and water, for producing electricity, and for transportation.

11. List the advantages and disadvantages of using geothermal energy.

12. List the advantages and disadvantages of using hydrogen gas to produce electricity, to heat buildings and water, and to propel vehicles.

13. List the advantages and disadvantages of using oil and natural gas as energy resources.

14. List the advantages and disadvantages of using coal as an energy resource.

15. List the advantages and disadvantages of using conventional nuclear fission, breeder nuclear fission and nuclear fusion to produce electricity.

16. Indicate how long supplies will last for the world and the U.S. for natural gas, oil, and coal.

Earth Structure and Solid Waste

1. Identify the order of the physical properties, chemical composition and of the layers of the earth (inner core, mantle, crust, outer core).

2. Describe and provide examples of the major building processes occurring on the surface of the earth. (diastrophism and crustal movement)

3. Describe and provide examples of the major destructive processes occurring on the surface of the earth (weathering and erosion).

4. Describe the rock cycle and how it can recycle earth materials and concentrate mineral resources.

5. Discuss the natural hazards such as earthquakes, volcanoes, flood planes, mud flows and indicate the problems associated with each.

6. Identify the principal types of soil, and their properties. Indicate which are best used for growing crops.

7. Explain the problem with soil erosion in the world and in the U.S. and indicate how erosion can be reduced.

8. Recreational use of our lands includes national parks, monuments, and state parks. Indicate what defines each and indicate the problems they face each and how they should be managed for the benefit of all.

9. Describe and provide examples of the harmful environmental impacts of mining, processing, and using crustal resources.

10. Identify a minimum of five key minerals and how long the supplies will last for the world and the U.S.

11. Define ways that can increase the supplies of key minerals.

12. Define the meaning of Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, and Refuse.

13. Define non-hazardous solid wastes and identify the major sources.

14. Define non-hazardous solid wastes and identify the major types and sources. Identify how hazardous waste can be managed and reduced.

Atmosphere and Climate

1. Identify the layers of the atmosphere and indicate major physical differences.

2. List the principal types and sources of air pollution.

3. Describe and identify sources of smog, acid rain, photochemical smog, and particulates in the atmosphere.

4. Explain how legal and technological methods can be used to reduce air pollution.

5. Describe the structure and how the human respiratory system works.

6. Describe how various air pollutants affect the respiratory system.

7. Describe the diseases and syndromes associated with air pollution.

8. Describe the effects of air pollutants upon other plant/animal species.

9. Describe how acid rain forms and how it affects plant and animal life in terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.

10. Describe how the ozone layer is formed, its importance as a radiation screen.

11. Define climate and weather and indicate how they are different.

12. Indicate the techniques that scientists use to determine previous climates.

13. Explain how climate effects the types of biomes found in a given area.

14. Describe the activities that causes global cooling, and explain how it can be prevented.

15. Describe the activities that causes global warming, and explain how it can be prevented.

16. Explain how to delay and reduce possible global warming, and adjust to its effects.

17. Explain how we are depleting the ozone in the stratosphere, how we can prevent it and some ways we can reduce the depletion of ozone layer.

Water Resources

1. Describe and apply to the environment the physical properties of water such as: ability to dissolve materials, boiling freezing range, ability to store heat (Specific Heat), and the expansion upon freezing.

2. Describe the various ways water is essential to life.

3. Describe the existence of life on Earth related to liquid water's unique physical properties.

4. Explain how much usable fresh water is available globally, and how much of the supply we are using.

5. Describe how water resources can be managed to increase the supply and reduce waste.

6. Describe how surface water, ground water & drainage basins are interrelated and show how various pollutants enter/are carried by these systems.

7. Describe the major water borne disease (and food borne) organisms, including their life cycles and modes of infection and resultant treatment to destroy them.

8. Describe how oxygen demanding wastes and their associated microorganisms cause the death of more beneficial/susceptible organisms in an aquatic ecosystem.

9. Describe the steps of eutrophication, utilizing the Great Lakes as an example.

10. Describe the problems of thermal and sediment pollution in aquatic ecosystems. Identify some solutions frequently utilized to solve the problems they create.

11. Describe the three levels of water treatment (primary, secondary, tertiary) and indicate which is used primarily used in the U.S. .

12. List the principal types of water pollution and indicate their sources, and effects.

13. Explain the biggest pollution problems in streams and lakes.

14. Explain the biggest pollution problems in the world's oceans.

15. Explain the biggest pollution problems of groundwater aquifers, and list a minimum of three ways the problems can be reduced.

16. List a minimum of three ways legal and a minimum three ways technological methods can be used to reduce water pollution.