Topic- 1
Meaning of Environment
Environment can be described as the sum of all living and nonliving factors and their consequences that
influence human life. Basically, the environment consists of both natural (water, wind, soil, plants, animals)
and man-made (chair, table, building, bridge and so on) elements.
The word ‘environment’ originated from a French word ‘Environ’ which means “surroundings” or “around”.
Therefore, environment means all the surroundings that shape the way living beings live, grow and survive.
Fig: Components of environment.
According to Savindra Singh, “Environment refers to the sum total of all biotic and abiotic factors, substances,
and conditions that surround and influence organisms including humans.”
In the words of P. Gisbert, “Environment ids everything immediately surrounding an object and exerting a
direct influence on it.”
Tansley said, “Environment consists of all the factors_ biotic and abiotic which collectively make up the
surroundings of an organism.”
Structure of The Environment:
The structure of the environment refers to the organized system of diff erent components_ atmosphere,
lithosphere, hydrosphere, biosphere, and their interaction with each other to support life on earth.
Fig: Structure of the environment.
,Here a brief explanation:
• Atmosphere:
Atmosphere is a thick gacious layer which surrounds the earth from all the sides and is attached to the
surface by gravitational forces. Basically, the atmosphere consists of 78% of Nitrogen, 21% of Oxygen,
and 1% of other gases like_ carbon dioxide, ozone, argon, water vapors etc. Also, it has five layers of its
own such as_ stratosphere, troposphere, mesosphere, thermosphere and exosphere.
Fig: Structure of the atmosphere.
• Lithosphere:
Lithosphere is derived from the word “sphere”, combined with the Greek word “lithos” which means rock.
Lithosphere is, therefore, the solid outermost layer of the earth. Basically, this layer consists of two parts:
1) Crust [The outermost and thinnest layer which includes continental crust and oceanic crust], 2) Upper
mantle [The layer just below the crust]. The lithosphere extends from the surface of the earth to a depth
of 100 km.
Fig: Lithosphere.
• Hydrosphere:
The hydrosphere refers to all the forms of water that exist on earth, including_ marine (oceans, seas),
freshwater (river, ponds, lakes, streams), and ground water resources etc. Generally, 97% of earth’s water
is found in the oceans in the form of salt water. While only 3 percent of the earth’s water is fresh. From
this 3%, 30,8% is available as groundwater; 68.9% is in the frozen forms and rest 0.3% is available in
rivers, lakes, streams, which has easy access to human.
, Fig: Hydrological Cycle.
• Biosphere:
Biosphere is the combine sphere of other three part of the environment (atmosphere, lithosphere,
hydrosphere). Actually, biosphere is a narrow zone on the surface of the earth where soil, water, and air
are linked to sustain life. Basically, this level of life extends from the deepest roots of trees to upper
atmosphere where birds or microbes can survive.
Fig; Structure of biosphere.
Types of the Environment:
Based on different criteria, the environment can be classified into the following types:
1. Based on Components
• Natural Environment – Includes land, water, air, plants, and animals (e.g., forests, rivers, mountains).
• Human-made Environment – Created by humans (e.g., cities, buildings, roads, industries).
• Social Environment – Social relationships, cultural values, traditions, and institutions.
2. Based on Scale
• Micro environment – Immediate surroundings (e.g., home, workplace, school).
• Macro Environment – Larger surroundings (e.g., city, region, country).
• Global Environment – Entire planet and its systems (e.g., climate, oceans, global biodiversity).
3. Based on Nature
• Physical Environment – Natural features like landforms, climate, and water bodies.
• Biological Environment – Living organisms like plants, animals, and humans.
• Chemical Environment – Air, water, soil composition, and chemical interactions.
Meaning of Environment
Environment can be described as the sum of all living and nonliving factors and their consequences that
influence human life. Basically, the environment consists of both natural (water, wind, soil, plants, animals)
and man-made (chair, table, building, bridge and so on) elements.
The word ‘environment’ originated from a French word ‘Environ’ which means “surroundings” or “around”.
Therefore, environment means all the surroundings that shape the way living beings live, grow and survive.
Fig: Components of environment.
According to Savindra Singh, “Environment refers to the sum total of all biotic and abiotic factors, substances,
and conditions that surround and influence organisms including humans.”
In the words of P. Gisbert, “Environment ids everything immediately surrounding an object and exerting a
direct influence on it.”
Tansley said, “Environment consists of all the factors_ biotic and abiotic which collectively make up the
surroundings of an organism.”
Structure of The Environment:
The structure of the environment refers to the organized system of diff erent components_ atmosphere,
lithosphere, hydrosphere, biosphere, and their interaction with each other to support life on earth.
Fig: Structure of the environment.
,Here a brief explanation:
• Atmosphere:
Atmosphere is a thick gacious layer which surrounds the earth from all the sides and is attached to the
surface by gravitational forces. Basically, the atmosphere consists of 78% of Nitrogen, 21% of Oxygen,
and 1% of other gases like_ carbon dioxide, ozone, argon, water vapors etc. Also, it has five layers of its
own such as_ stratosphere, troposphere, mesosphere, thermosphere and exosphere.
Fig: Structure of the atmosphere.
• Lithosphere:
Lithosphere is derived from the word “sphere”, combined with the Greek word “lithos” which means rock.
Lithosphere is, therefore, the solid outermost layer of the earth. Basically, this layer consists of two parts:
1) Crust [The outermost and thinnest layer which includes continental crust and oceanic crust], 2) Upper
mantle [The layer just below the crust]. The lithosphere extends from the surface of the earth to a depth
of 100 km.
Fig: Lithosphere.
• Hydrosphere:
The hydrosphere refers to all the forms of water that exist on earth, including_ marine (oceans, seas),
freshwater (river, ponds, lakes, streams), and ground water resources etc. Generally, 97% of earth’s water
is found in the oceans in the form of salt water. While only 3 percent of the earth’s water is fresh. From
this 3%, 30,8% is available as groundwater; 68.9% is in the frozen forms and rest 0.3% is available in
rivers, lakes, streams, which has easy access to human.
, Fig: Hydrological Cycle.
• Biosphere:
Biosphere is the combine sphere of other three part of the environment (atmosphere, lithosphere,
hydrosphere). Actually, biosphere is a narrow zone on the surface of the earth where soil, water, and air
are linked to sustain life. Basically, this level of life extends from the deepest roots of trees to upper
atmosphere where birds or microbes can survive.
Fig; Structure of biosphere.
Types of the Environment:
Based on different criteria, the environment can be classified into the following types:
1. Based on Components
• Natural Environment – Includes land, water, air, plants, and animals (e.g., forests, rivers, mountains).
• Human-made Environment – Created by humans (e.g., cities, buildings, roads, industries).
• Social Environment – Social relationships, cultural values, traditions, and institutions.
2. Based on Scale
• Micro environment – Immediate surroundings (e.g., home, workplace, school).
• Macro Environment – Larger surroundings (e.g., city, region, country).
• Global Environment – Entire planet and its systems (e.g., climate, oceans, global biodiversity).
3. Based on Nature
• Physical Environment – Natural features like landforms, climate, and water bodies.
• Biological Environment – Living organisms like plants, animals, and humans.
• Chemical Environment – Air, water, soil composition, and chemical interactions.
