ENVS 1126 Chapter : ENVS August 26
ENVS August 26, 2014
Chapter 1: Science and the Environment
Sustainability-Sound Science- Stewardship
The Scientific Method:
What we perceive represents an objective reality
Objective reality functions according to basic principles and natural laws
Every result has a cause; every event will cause other events
Through our powers of observation, manipulation, and reasoning we discover and
understand the basic principles and natural laws by which the universe functions
The scientific method involves hypothesis testing:
A hypothesis is a tentative guess concerning the caise of an observed phenomenon that
is then tested by means of experiments to determine whether it is true and its logical or empirical
consequences
The average ph of ocean is not 8.5 but 8.1
Ocean taking 25% of co2 not 50%
Easter island:
Discovered by Polynesians around 900 ad
Environmentally fragile little resilience
Initially forested
Giant palm tree-7 feet diameter 21 species of trees
Deforestation complete by 1400-1600
Cut trees:
Built boats
Clear land for growing crops
Building materials rope
Cremate dead
Later to transport moai(statues)
Extinction of native land birds
25 of nesting seabird species 24 no longer breed on Easter Island
Document Summary
Objective reality functions according to basic principles and natural laws. Every result has a cause; every event will cause other events. Through our powers of observation, manipulation, and reasoning we discover and understand the basic principles and natural laws by which the universe functions. A hypothesis is a tentative guess concerning the caise of an observed phenomenon that is then tested by means of experiments to determine whether it is true and its logical or empirical consequences. The average ph of ocean is not 8. 5 but 8. 1. Giant palm tree-7 feet diameter 21 species of trees. 25 of nesting seabird species 24 no longer breed on easter island. Loss of raw materials, wild caught food, decreased crop fields. Cold and dry (50 inches of rain per year) 3 of 135 countries had higher hdi in 2010 than 1970. Used to treat childhood leukemia and hodgkin"s disease. Taxol isoleared from bark if pacific yew tree.
