What is Environment?
A simple definition of an environment can be stated as a system encompassing all biotic and abiotic elements affecting human life. The biotic or living components comprise all flora and fauna, and abiotic components include water, sunlight, air, climate, etc.
The resources of an environment can be any matter, service or particulars that are useful to society and human beings. They can be anything that satisfies the needs of daily life. Nourishment from living organisms and plants, fuel for cooking purposes and transportation, wind, oil, etc. are all environmental supplies.
The environment gives out an extensive range of products and services that is required to sustain life. Each resource holds relative importance and has significant value. For example, a slice of land can be turned into a park, housing society, a shopping mall, etc. Moreover, it can be modified into a garbage dumping area as well.
Meaning of Environment
The environment refers to the surrounding conditions and factors that influence living organisms and human activities. It includes both the natural environment, such as air, water, land, plants, and animals, as well as the built environment, which consists of human-made structures, infrastructure, and systems. The environment affects all aspects of life, including physical health, economic development, and societal interactions. Understanding the environment is crucial for maintaining ecological balance and ensuring sustainable development for future generations.
Concept of Environment
The environment refers to the external surroundings or conditions in which living organisms, including humans, exist and interact. It encompasses both biotic components (living elements such as plants, animals, and microorganisms) and abiotic components (non-living factors like air, water, sunlight, soil, and climate) that collectively influence life and ecological balance.
Features of Environment
The environment is always changing due to natural processes and human actions.
Everything in the environment is connected, so changes in one area affect others.
The environment provides resources like water, air, and food that we need to survive.
There is a great variety of plants, animals, and ecosystems in the environment.
Human activities, like pollution and deforestation, can harm the environment and cause problems.
Example of Environment
A forest ecosystem is an example of an environment. It includes biotic components like trees, animals, birds, insects, and microorganisms, as well as abiotic components such as soil, sunlight, air, water, and temperature. Together, these elements interact to sustain life and maintain ecological balance.
The essential functions of the environment are stated below.
Functions of Environment: What are the Activities of Environment?
The Environment Supports Life
The environment provides services that sustain life but does not involve human action. Some of them are climatic stability, protection from ultra-violet rays, and ecological diversity.
It Enhances and Upgrades the Quality of Living
A pollution-free environment is necessary for a healthy livelihood. Apart from this, all-natural scenic beauties like mountains, seas, deserts, etc. provide enjoyment and satisfaction to an individual. However, people must also make sure to preserve all the natural resources and not pollute them to maintain well-being.
It Produces Resources for Utilisation.
All natural resources, like renewable and non-renewable energy sources, are produced by the environment. Most of them are essential for living. Organisms use both biotic and abiotic sources. Vegetation and animal products are obtained from plants and creatures. Fossils fuel is generated from the dead and decaying matter of organic substances. Other constituents of the ecosystem, including freshwater, wind, and even metals, are provided by the environment.
The Environment Absorbs Waste Materials.
The environment can assimilate waste products without inducing any harmful effect on the living creatures. The time when absorption exceeds the assimilative level, it leads to pollution. An example of this kind of capacity is that plants living in water bodies can absorb bacteria, chemicals, etc. According to one research, an aquatic moss named Warnstorfia fluitans can discard arsenic from water.
What are the Types of Resources?
As mentioned earlier, natural resources are of two kinds:
The two sorts of resources are renewable and non-renewable resources.
Renewable Resources
These are natural resources that never get depleted with their constant usage. Replenishment of these happens through organic reproduction or continuous processes within limited time duration. These sources take up a large part of the Earth’s natural ecosystem. Some common renewable resources are:
Water
It is one of the major types of renewable energy sources found on Earth. In recent years, however, due to population boom and rapid urbanisation, it is becoming scarce. For instance, underground water is being used at a much higher rate. On the other hand, its natural restoration is falling comparatively shorter. Furthermore, if statistics are taken into account, 97.5% of water present on Earth is salty. Freshwater amounts to only 3% and two-thirds of it are frozen.
Nevertheless, if water from sea undergoes desalination, it can be counted as an inexhaustible natural source. However, the expense related to desalination is steep.
Air
Another crucial renewable resource is air. Every living organism requires air to survive. The air in our natural environment contains 78.09% of nitrogen, 0.93% of argon 20.95 of oxygen, 0.04% of carbon dioxide and other gases in small quantities.
Non-dietary Sources
Wood is a necessary sustainable resource. They are obtainable from forestry and are utilised for building houses, furniture, etc. Trees, herbs, and shrubs generate the maximum number of renewable resources. Many kinds of lubricants, vegetable oils used in the market, cloth materials and fibre, different types of paper, bio-plastics are derived from plant renewable. Numerous chemical-based items like resin, glucose, rubber, latex, starch can be obtained from the greenery present in our environment. On the other hand, animals also produce various sustainable sources. Some of them are leather, animal glue, technical fat, etc.
Non-Farming Food
Food is a substance that is needed to provide energy and nutrition to a body. The maximum form of foodstuffs originates from renewable resources. It is directly acquired from flora and fauna.
Non-Renewable Resources
The natural sources that cannot be replenished at the same speed organically, as compared to its consumption are termed as non-renewable energy resources. It’s examples are:
Fossil Fuels
This category of resources requires a considerable amount of time to form and is not easily restorable. It includes petroleum (also known as crude oil), coal, and fossil gas. In due course, it is contemplated that gathering resources from fossil-fuels will grow expensive.
Hence, humankind will have to be reliable on energy sources like wind or solar power.
Metallic Ores and Minerals
Vast quantities of metals are available in the layers of Earth’s surface. However, these resources form with the help of natural processes like pressure, weathering, heat, etc. These processes necessitate thousands of years to draw out the minerals and ores.
Nuclear Propellants
Generally, atomic energy is classified under the renewable energy source, but the elements needed in nuclear units are non-renewable. Uranium is commonly used in these power stations. Though uranium is available across the globe, the power units use a special kind of uranium, namely U-235. This type is a non-renewable element.
Vedantu hopes that this content is sufficient for comprehending the environment's meaning. For more related topics, you can visit our website or app.
Do it Yourself: Classify the following into non-renewable and renewable sources: (i) Wind, (ii) Wood, (iii) Natural gas, (iv) Coal, (v) Fish, (vi) Trees
Top 5 Uses of the Environment:
1. Supports Life:
Provides essential resources like air, water, and food necessary for the survival of living organisms.
2. Source of Natural Resources:
Supplies renewable and non-renewable resources, including plants, animals, minerals, and energy sources like solar and wind.
3. Maintains Ecological Balance:
Regulates ecosystems and sustains biodiversity, ensuring stability in natural processes and food chains.
4. Waste Absorption:
Absorbs and decomposes waste materials, helping reduce pollution and maintain cleanliness.
5. Climate Regulation:
Plays a critical role in stabilizing temperature, rainfall patterns, and overall climate through natural elements like forests and oceans.
Solved Questions (NCERT)
1. Fill in the Blanks:
a) The living components of the environment are called __________.
Answer: Biotic components
b) The non-living components of the environment are called __________.
Answer: Abiotic components
2. Define environment.
Answer: The environment refers to the surroundings or conditions in which living organisms exist. It includes both biotic components like plants, animals, and microorganisms, and abiotic components like air, water, sunlight, and climate.
3. Name two renewable resources and two non-renewable resources.
Answer:
Renewable Resources: Water, Wind
Non-renewable Resources: Coal, Petroleum
4. Explain the importance of trees in the environment.
Answer: Trees are important in the environment because they produce oxygen, absorb carbon dioxide, help in soil conservation, provide habitats for wildlife, and regulate the water cycle. They also maintain ecological balance by supporting biodiversity.
5. What is meant by 'ecological balance'?
Answer: Ecological balance refers to the state of harmony in nature, where the interactions between living organisms and their environment are stable. It ensures the survival of different species and the proper functioning of ecosystems.
6. Value-based Question:
Why is it important to conserve non-renewable resources?
Answer: It is important to conserve non-renewable resources because they take millions of years to form and cannot be replenished within a human lifetime. Overuse of these resources leads to their depletion, leaving future generations without essential supplies. Conservation helps in promoting sustainable development and ensuring that resources are available for longer periods.
7. Short Answer: What are abiotic components of the environment?
Answer: Abiotic components of the environment include non-living factors like air, water, soil, sunlight, temperature, and minerals that interact with living organisms in various ways.
8. True or False:
The environment can absorb unlimited amounts of waste without causing harm to living organisms.
Answer: False
Explanation: The environment can absorb waste up to a certain limit. Beyond this limit, it leads to pollution and damage to ecosystems, affecting the health of living organisms.
9. What role does the environment play in maintaining life on Earth?
Answer: The environment provides essential resources like water, air, food, and shelter that are necessary for the survival of all organisms. It also maintains ecological balance, regulates the climate, and supports the biodiversity required for life to thrive.
10. Why is it necessary to reduce pollution in the environment?
Answer: Reducing pollution is necessary to protect the health of living organisms, maintain clean air and water, and preserve biodiversity. Pollution leads to environmental degradation, climate change, and adverse effects on human health, making it crucial to adopt sustainable practices for a healthier planet.
FAQs on Environment: Types, Components, and Importance
1. What is the Environment?
The unit comprising all the living and non-living factors are known as the environment.
2. What are the Two Primary Kinds of Energy Resources?
The two categories are renewable energy sources and non-renewable energy sources.
3. Define Renewable and Non-renewable Resources of Energy.
The non-exhaustible sources of energy are called renewable resources, and the ones that can get depleted with their use are considered as non-renewable resources.
4. What are renewable resources, and can you give examples?
Renewable resources are natural sources that replenish over time through organic reproduction or continuous natural processes. Examples include water, air, wood, and plant-based products.
5. What are non-renewable resources, and why are they limited?
Non-renewable resources are those that cannot be replenished at the same speed as their consumption. Examples include fossil fuels, metallic ores, and uranium. Their formation requires thousands of years through natural processes.
6. Why is water considered a crucial renewable resource?
Water is essential for life and is renewable through natural cycles like rain. However, factors like overuse and slow replenishment rates have made freshwater increasingly scarce.
7. How do humans benefit from biotic and abiotic resources?
Humans benefit from biotic resources like food, wood, and animal products, while abiotic resources like wind, sunlight, and minerals are used for energy, construction, and other purposes.
8. Why is it important to conserve non-renewable resources?
Non-renewable resources take thousands of years to form and cannot be replenished quickly. Conservation ensures their availability for future generations and encourages a shift to sustainable alternatives.
9. How can individuals contribute to preserving renewable resources?
Individuals can preserve renewable resources by reducing waste, conserving water, planting trees, using energy-efficient appliances, and adopting sustainable practices like recycling.
10. What are the environmental impacts of overusing resources?
Overusing resources can lead to pollution, habitat destruction, resource depletion, and loss of biodiversity. It also disrupts ecological balance, affecting the quality of life for all organisms.
