What Is Environmental Science?
Environmental science is an interdisciplinary field that studies the physical, chemical and biological processes of the environment and the interactions between human societies and the natural world.
It combines knowledge from ecology, biology, chemistry, physics, geology, geography, atmospheric science, hydrology, oceanography, soil science and environmental engineering.
Environmental scientists investigate how natural systems work, how human activities affect them and how environmental problems can be measured and addressed.
A science of the Earth system
Environmental science connects the atmosphere, oceans, land, freshwater, living organisms and human societies into a single interconnected system.
The Earth System
Earth is a complex system consisting of interacting physical, chemical and biological components.
Atmosphere
The gaseous envelope surrounding Earth, containing the air required by many living organisms and influencing climate and weather.
Hydrosphere
Includes oceans, rivers, lakes, groundwater, glaciers and other forms of water.
Geosphere
The solid Earth, including rocks, minerals, soils and the interior of the planet.
Biosphere
The parts of Earth in which life exists.
Ecology
Ecology is the scientific study of interactions between organisms and their environment.
Population Ecology
Studies populations of individual species and their changes over time.
Community Ecology
Studies interactions between different species living together.
Ecosystem Ecology
Studies energy flow and nutrient cycling through ecosystems.
Landscape Ecology
Examines ecological processes across larger geographical areas.
Ecosystems
An ecosystem consists of living organisms and the physical environment with which they interact.
Energy generally enters ecosystems through photosynthesis and then flows through food webs. Matter is continually recycled through biogeochemical cycles.
Biodiversity
Biodiversity refers to the variety of life, including diversity within species, between species and among ecosystems.
Genetic Diversity
Variation in genetic characteristics within populations and species.
Species Diversity
The variety and relative abundance of different species.
Ecosystem Diversity
The variety of ecosystems and ecological communities.
Functional Diversity
The range of ecological roles and functions performed by organisms.
Food Webs
Food webs describe feeding relationships within ecosystems.
Decomposers break down dead organic matter and return nutrients to the ecosystem.
Biogeochemical Cycles
Elements and compounds continually move between the atmosphere, biosphere, hydrosphere and geosphere.
Carbon Cycle
Describes the movement of carbon through the atmosphere, oceans, living organisms, soils and geological reservoirs.
Nitrogen Cycle
Describes transformations and movement of nitrogen through ecosystems and the atmosphere.
Water Cycle
Describes evaporation, condensation, precipitation, infiltration, runoff and other movements of water.
Phosphorus Cycle
Describes the movement of phosphorus through rocks, soils, water and living organisms.
Atmospheric Science
Atmospheric science studies the physical and chemical properties of Earth's atmosphere.
Weather
Short-term atmospheric conditions such as temperature, precipitation, pressure and wind.
Climate
Long-term patterns and statistics of atmospheric conditions.
Atmospheric Chemistry
Studies gases, particles and chemical reactions within the atmosphere.
Aerosols
Tiny particles suspended in the atmosphere that can influence air quality and climate.
Climate Science
Climate science investigates Earth's climate system and its changes over time.
Changes in atmospheric composition, land surface characteristics, ocean conditions and other factors can alter Earth's energy balance.
The Greenhouse Effect
The natural greenhouse effect allows Earth's atmosphere to retain some outgoing infrared radiation, helping maintain temperatures suitable for life.
Human activities have increased atmospheric concentrations of several greenhouse gases, including carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide.
Climate Change
Climate change refers to long-term changes in Earth's climate system.
Temperature
Global average surface temperature has increased substantially over the industrial era.
Sea Level
Sea level responds to thermal expansion of seawater and changes in land-based ice.
Extreme Events
Climate change can influence the frequency and intensity of some weather and climate extremes.
Ecosystems
Changes in temperature, precipitation and ocean conditions can affect ecosystems and species distributions.
The Carbon Cycle
Carbon moves between the atmosphere, oceans, soils, vegetation and geological reservoirs.
Human activities such as fossil-fuel combustion and land-use change can alter the movement of carbon between these reservoirs.
Water Science
Water is fundamental to ecosystems, agriculture, industry, human health and the climate system.
Surface Water
Includes rivers, lakes, reservoirs, wetlands and streams.
Groundwater
Water stored within pores and fractures below Earth's surface.
Glaciers
Large bodies of persistent ice that store freshwater.
Wetlands
Water-rich ecosystems that provide important ecological and hydrological functions.
The Water Cycle
The water cycle links the atmosphere, land, oceans and living organisms.
Ocean Science
The oceans cover most of Earth's surface and play major roles in climate regulation, carbon cycling and biodiversity.
Ocean Circulation
Large-scale movement of seawater redistributes heat and dissolved substances around the planet.
Marine Ecosystems
Include coral reefs, kelp forests, open ocean ecosystems, estuaries and deep-sea environments.
Ocean Acidification
Absorption of atmospheric carbon dioxide changes seawater chemistry and reduces pH.
Sea Level
Ocean volume and land-ice changes influence global and regional sea levels.
Soil Science
Soils are complex systems containing minerals, organic matter, water, air and living organisms.
Soil Formation
Soils develop through interactions between parent material, climate, organisms, topography and time.
Soil Carbon
Soils store substantial quantities of organic carbon.
Soil Biodiversity
Bacteria, fungi, insects, worms and other organisms perform important ecological functions.
Soil Erosion
Wind and water can remove soil, potentially reducing agricultural productivity and ecosystem health.
Environmental Pollution
Pollution occurs when harmful substances or forms of energy are introduced into the environment at levels that cause adverse effects.
Air Pollution
Includes particulate matter, nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide, ozone and other pollutants.
Water Pollution
Can result from chemicals, nutrients, pathogens, sediments, plastics and other contaminants.
Soil Pollution
Can result from industrial chemicals, pesticides, metals and other contaminants.
Noise Pollution
Unwanted sound can affect humans and wildlife.
Light Pollution
Artificial night-time lighting can alter ecosystems and astronomical observations.
Air Quality
Air-quality science measures pollutants in the atmosphere and examines their sources, transport, chemical transformation and effects.
| Pollutant | Examples of sources or effects |
|---|---|
| Particulate Matter | Combustion, industry, transport and natural sources |
| Nitrogen Oxides | Combustion processes and atmospheric chemistry |
| Sulfur Dioxide | Combustion of sulfur-containing fuels and industrial processes |
| Ozone | Secondary pollutant formed through atmospheric chemistry |
| Carbon Monoxide | Incomplete combustion |
Waste Management
Environmental science examines the generation, movement, treatment and disposal of waste.
Waste Prevention
Reduce the quantity of waste produced in the first place.
Reuse
Use products and materials again rather than discarding them.
Recycling
Recover materials from waste for use in new products.
Composting
Biologically decomposes suitable organic material.
Energy Recovery
Some waste streams can be processed to recover useful energy.
Landfill
Provides controlled disposal for waste that cannot otherwise be appropriately recovered or treated.
Plastic Pollution
Plastic materials are persistent in the environment and can fragment into smaller particles, including microplastics.
Environmental scientists study the sources, transport, degradation and ecological effects of plastic pollution in terrestrial, freshwater and marine environments.
Conservation Biology
Conservation science seeks to understand and protect biological diversity and ecosystem function.
Protected Areas
Designated areas can provide protection for important habitats and species.
Habitat Restoration
Damaged ecosystems can sometimes be restored through ecological management.
Species Recovery
Conservation programmes can help threatened species recover.
Rewilding
Restores ecological processes and, where appropriate, native species and habitats.
Land Use and Environmental Science
Human land use has major effects on ecosystems.
Agriculture
Provides food but can influence soils, water, biodiversity and greenhouse-gas emissions.
Forestry
Forest management affects carbon storage, biodiversity, water and landscapes.
Urbanisation
Cities transform land cover and alter water, energy and material flows.
Infrastructure
Roads, railways, airports and energy infrastructure can fragment habitats and alter landscapes.
Energy and the Environment
Energy production and consumption are closely connected with environmental science.
Fossil Fuels
Coal, oil and natural gas provide energy but generate greenhouse-gas emissions and other environmental impacts.
Solar Energy
Converts sunlight into electricity or useful heat.
Wind Energy
Converts the kinetic energy of moving air into electricity.
Hydropower
Uses flowing or falling water to generate electricity.
Nuclear Energy
Uses nuclear reactions to produce heat and electricity with very low operational carbon emissions.
Renewable Energy
Renewable-energy systems obtain energy from resources that are naturally replenished.
Environmental scientists assess both the benefits and potential environmental impacts of renewable-energy deployment.
The site www.renewable-energy.engineering.me.uk provides a resource on Renewable Energy Engineering.
The LinkedIn Group Renewable Energy R&D has been created to connect the people interested in the renewable energy field. You can also link to the LinkedIn profile Renewable Energy.
Sustainability
Sustainability involves meeting present needs while maintaining the environmental, social and economic conditions required for future generations.
Environmental
Protect ecosystems, resources, biodiversity and environmental quality.
Social
Consider health, wellbeing, equity and communities.
Economic
Consider long-term economic viability and efficient resource use.
Circular Economy
A circular economy seeks to reduce resource consumption and waste by keeping products and materials in use for as long as possible.
Environmental Monitoring
Environmental scientists use measurements and observations to determine the condition of environmental systems.
Air Monitoring
Measures atmospheric pollutants and meteorological conditions.
Water Monitoring
Measures chemical, physical and biological characteristics of water.
Ecological Surveys
Measure species abundance, habitat condition and ecosystem characteristics.
Remote Sensing
Uses satellites, aircraft and other sensors to observe environmental conditions over large areas.
Geographic Information Systems
Geographic Information Systems (GIS) allow environmental scientists to store, analyse and visualise geographically referenced information.
Land Cover
Maps forests, agriculture, urban areas, wetlands and other land-cover types.
Habitat Mapping
Identifies and analyses wildlife habitats.
Pollution Mapping
Shows the geographical distribution of environmental contaminants.
Climate Analysis
Combines spatial data with climate observations and models.
Remote Sensing
Remote sensing uses sensors to observe Earth's surface and atmosphere without direct physical contact.
Applications include vegetation monitoring, ocean observation, land-use mapping, wildfire detection, atmospheric measurements and climate research.
Environmental Engineering
Environmental engineering applies engineering principles to environmental protection and resource management.
Water Treatment
Removes contaminants from water to produce appropriate-quality supplies.
Wastewater Treatment
Treats sewage and industrial wastewater before discharge or reuse.
Air Pollution Control
Uses engineering systems to reduce atmospheric emissions.
Waste Management
Designs systems for collection, treatment, recovery and disposal of waste.
The site www.environmental..engineering.me.uk provides a resource on Environmental. Engineering.
Environmental Chemistry
Environmental chemistry studies chemical processes occurring in air, water, soils, sediments and living organisms.
Contaminants
Studies the presence and behaviour of pollutants in the environment.
Atmospheric Chemistry
Examines chemical reactions involving gases and particles in the atmosphere.
Water Chemistry
Studies dissolved substances, acidity, nutrients and pollutants in aquatic systems.
Biogeochemistry
Examines chemical transformations associated with biological and geological processes.
Environmental Risk Assessment
Environmental risk assessment evaluates the probability and potential consequences of environmental hazards.
Risk assessment can be applied to contaminated land, industrial emissions, chemicals, infrastructure projects, ecosystems and natural hazards.
Environmental Impact Assessment
Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is a structured process for examining the potential environmental effects of proposed projects.
Natural Hazards
Environmental science also investigates natural hazards and their interaction with human populations.
Flooding
Excess water can inundate land, infrastructure and settlements.
Drought
Extended periods of unusually low water availability can affect ecosystems, agriculture and society.
Wildfires
Fire is an important ecological process but can become a major environmental and societal hazard.
Landslides
Slope failure can be influenced by geology, rainfall, land use and other factors.
Environmental Science in the United Kingdom
Environmental science is important across the UK because of the country's varied landscapes, extensive coastline, rivers, agricultural land, urban areas and industrial heritage.
Coastal Environments
Scientists study erosion, flooding, sea-level change, sediment transport and marine ecosystems.
Rivers and Lakes
Water scientists investigate water quality, flooding, ecology and catchment processes.
Peatlands
Peatlands are important ecosystems and carbon stores.
Woodlands
Forests and woodlands provide habitats, carbon storage, recreation and other ecosystem services.
Urban Environments
Environmental scientists study air quality, biodiversity, heat, water and pollution in cities.
Industrial Sites
Environmental assessment is important for contaminated land, industrial emissions and site restoration.
Environmental Science in North West England
North West England contains a diverse mixture of urban, industrial, agricultural, upland, coastal and freshwater environments.
Environmental science in the region includes research into the River Mersey, Irish Sea, Pennine landscapes, peatlands, air quality, biodiversity, renewable energy, flood risk and industrial land.
The region's environmental challenges also connect strongly with engineering, energy, transport, urban planning and industrial development.
History of Environmental Science
Natural history, geology, ecology and atmospheric science develop as increasingly systematic scientific disciplines.
Charles Darwin publishes On the Origin of Species, transforming scientific understanding of evolution and biodiversity.
Early ecological concepts develop alongside advances in natural science and geology.
Ecology, soil science, meteorology and environmental chemistry become increasingly established scientific fields.
Environmental pollution and ecological degradation become major subjects of public and scientific attention.
Environmental policy, conservation science and environmental impact assessment develop internationally.
Climate science, biodiversity conservation and global environmental change become increasingly important.
Remote sensing, GIS, climate modelling and environmental monitoring become increasingly sophisticated.
Environmental science increasingly focuses on climate change, biodiversity loss, sustainability, ecosystem restoration, pollution and the transition to low-carbon systems.
Careers in Environmental Science
Environmental Scientist
Studies environmental conditions, pollution, ecosystems and environmental change.
Ecologist
Studies organisms, habitats, populations and ecosystems.
Environmental Consultant
Provides environmental assessment, monitoring and advisory services to organisations and projects.
Climate Scientist
Studies climate processes, variability and long-term change.
Hydrologist
Studies water movement and distribution across landscapes.
Soil Scientist
Studies soil properties, processes, contamination and ecosystem functions.
Environmental Engineer
Develops engineering solutions to environmental problems.
Conservation Scientist
Develops strategies for protecting biodiversity and ecosystems.
GIS Specialist
Analyses and visualises geographically referenced environmental information.
Environmental Policy Analyst
Uses scientific evidence to inform environmental policy and regulation.
Subjects in Environmental Science
| Subject | Environmental application |
|---|---|
| Ecology | Understanding ecosystems and species interactions |
| Biology | Understanding living organisms and biodiversity |
| Chemistry | Understanding pollutants and environmental reactions |
| Geology | Understanding rocks, soils and Earth's physical structure |
| Atmospheric Science | Understanding weather, climate and air pollution |
| Hydrology | Understanding rivers, groundwater and water resources |
| Oceanography | Understanding marine systems and ocean processes |
| Soil Science | Understanding soil processes and land resources |
| GIS | Spatial analysis and environmental mapping |
| Remote Sensing | Monitoring environmental systems from satellites and aircraft |
| Statistics | Analysing environmental observations and experiments |
| Environmental Engineering | Designing technical solutions to environmental problems |
| Environmental Policy | Connecting science with regulation and decision-making |
Environmental Data Science
Environmental scientists increasingly work with large datasets generated by satellites, weather stations, ecological surveys, sensor networks and computer models.
Statistics
Used to identify patterns, relationships and uncertainty in environmental observations.
Computer Modelling
Simulates environmental processes and future scenarios.
Machine Learning
Can identify patterns in complex environmental datasets and assist prediction and classification.
Big Data
Combines large quantities of observations from multiple environmental monitoring systems.
The LinkedIn Group Simulation in Energy and Environment has been created to connect the people interested in the energy/environmental field.
Science and Environmental Policy
Environmental science provides evidence for decisions involving land use, pollution, biodiversity, energy, water, climate and natural resources.
Ecosystem Services
Ecosystems provide numerous benefits to human societies.
Provisioning
Food, freshwater, timber, fibres and other resources.
Regulating
Climate regulation, flood reduction, pollination and water purification.
Cultural
Recreation, tourism, education and cultural value.
Supporting
Soil formation, nutrient cycling and other processes supporting ecosystem function.
The Future of Environmental Science
Earth-System Science
Increasingly integrated models will examine interactions between atmosphere, oceans, land and ecosystems.
Climate Adaptation
Environmental scientists will increasingly assess how ecosystems and societies can adapt to changing conditions.
Nature Restoration
Restoration ecology will become increasingly important for recovering degraded ecosystems.
Environmental DNA
DNA obtained from environmental samples can help detect and monitor organisms and biodiversity.
Satellite Monitoring
Earth-observation satellites will provide increasingly detailed information about environmental change.
Artificial Intelligence
AI can support environmental forecasting, image analysis, species identification and monitoring.
Carbon Management
Scientific research will increasingly examine carbon removal, storage and ecosystem carbon dynamics.
One Health
Integrated approaches connect human health, animal health and environmental conditions.
Major Environmental Challenges
Climate Change
Changing temperatures, precipitation, oceans and extreme events affect natural and human systems.
Biodiversity Loss
Habitat change, exploitation, invasive species, pollution and climate change can threaten biodiversity.
Pollution
Chemical, biological and physical pollutants can affect ecosystems and human health.
Water Security
Growing demand and changing hydrological conditions create challenges for water resources.
Deforestation
Forest loss can affect biodiversity, carbon storage, soils and water cycles.
Resource Consumption
Growing demand for energy, materials, food and water creates environmental pressures.
Summary
Environmental science is the interdisciplinary study of Earth's physical, chemical and biological environment and the relationship between human society and natural systems.
Its principal fields include:
- ecology;
- biodiversity;
- climate science;
- atmospheric science;
- hydrology;
- oceanography;
- soil science;
- environmental chemistry;
- pollution science;
- conservation biology;
- environmental engineering;
- GIS and remote sensing;
- environmental monitoring;
- sustainability;
- environmental policy; and
- Earth-system science.
Environmental Science
From the chemistry of the atmosphere and oceans to forests, rivers, soils, biodiversity, climate and human societies, environmental science provides a framework for understanding the complex Earth system and developing evidence-based approaches to its protection.