Environmental Science For Dummies

Environmental Science For Dummies is a straightforward guide to the interrelationships of the natural world and the role that humans play in the environment. This book tracks to a typical introductory environmental science curriculum at the college level – and is great as a supplement or study guide for AP Environmental Science, too. Uncover fascinating facts about the earth's natural resources and the problems that arise when resources like air, water, and soil are contaminated by pollutants. If you're in need of extra help for a class, considering a career in environmental science, or simply care about our planet and want to learn more about helping the environment, this friendly Dummies resource is a great place to start.

- The key concepts of environmental science, clearly explained.
- All about the changing climate, including new understanding of methane release in the arctic.
- Earth's natural resources and the importance of protecting them.
- A new chapter on environmental justice, where issues of poverty and sustainability intersect.

A solid foundation in environmental science is essential for anyone looking for a career in the field-and is important knowledge for all of us as we work together to build a sustainable future.

Introduction 1

Part 1: Demystifying Science and the Environment 5
Chapter 1. Investigating the Environment 7
Chapter 2. Thinking Scientifically: The Scientific Method and Other Ways of Knowing 17
Chapter 3. What’s the Matter? Living and Nonliving Material 31
Chapter 4. Making Things Happen: Energy 49
Chapter 5. Studying the Environment and Your Place in It 59

Part 2: Living on Earth’s Surface: Ecosystems, Biomes, and Climate 71
Chapter 6. Exploring Ecosystems 73
Chapter 7. Biogeography: How Earth’s Climate Shapes Global Ecosystem Patterns 91
Chapter 8. Playing Well with Others: Population Biology 109
Chapter 9. Heating Things Up: Living in a Changing Climate 133

Part 3: Getting Your Needs Met: Earth’s Natural Resources 157
Chapter 10. Water, Water Everywhere: Freshwater Resources 159
Chapter 11. This Land Belongs to You and Me: Land as a Resource 171
Chapter 12. Greater Than the Sum of Its Parts: Biodiversity 181
Chapter 13. Dishing It Up: Food Resources 197
Chapter 14. Hitting the Hard Stuff: Geologic Resources and Hazards 219
Chapter 15. Shifting Gears: Alternative Energy 237

Part 4: Giving a Hoot: Pollution and Environmental Quality 253
Chapter 16. Breathing Room: Addressing Man-Made Air Pollution 255
Chapter 17. Spilling Over: Water Pollution 269
Chapter 18. What’s Your Poison? Toxins and Infectious Disease 281
Chapter 19. Wading Through the Waste Stream: Solid and Hazardous Waste 297

Part 5: Expanding the Definition of Sustainability 311
Chapter 20. Reevaluating the Value of the Environment 313
Chapter 21. Decolonizing Environmental Science 327

Part 6: The Part of Tens 343
Chapter 22. Ten International Agreements on Planetary Stewardship 345
Chapter 23. Ten Real-Life Examples of the Tragedy of the Commons 351

Index 357