Dr. Md Abdur Rashid Sarker, Associate Professor, Dept.

of ACEE, SAU

INTRODUCTION

1. Environment and Its Components

Environment refers to the surroundings or conditions in which an organism,
community, or system exists. It encompasses all the biotic (living) and abiotic
(non-living) components around us, interacting with one another to support life. The
environment is a complex and dynamic system consisting of multiple components that
influence each other. These components are broadly classified into:

Biotic Components: These are the living elements of the environment. They include:
Flora (Plants): Plants that provide oxygen, food, and habitats for other organisms.
Fauna (Animals): Animals that contribute to the ecosystem through activities such
as pollination, nutrient cycling, and food chains.
Microorganisms: Bacteria, fungi, and viruses that play key roles in decomposition,
nutrient cycling, and health.

Abiotic Components: These are the non-living factors that influence living organisms.
They include:
Air: The atmosphere that provides oxygen, carbon dioxide, and nitrogen.
Water: Essential for life, supporting all forms of aquatic and terrestrial organisms.
Soil: Provides nutrients and a foundation for plant growth.
Sunlight: A primary source of energy for photosynthesis and life processes.
Temperature: Affects the growth and survival of organisms.
Minerals and Rocks: Contribute to the physical structure and resources of the earth.
Together, biotic and abiotic components interact in ecosystems, which can be as small
as a pond or as large as the entire planet.
Components of Environment
1. Atmosphere: Gaseous layer protecting Earth and regulating climate.
2. Hydrosphere: Water bodies (oceans, rivers, and groundwater).
3. Lithosphere: Earth’s crust and soil systems.
4. Biosphere: Life-supporting regions and biodiversity.
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 Dr. Md Abdur Rashid Sarker, Associate Professor, Dept. of ACEE, SAU

2. Human-Environment Interaction
Human-environment interaction refers to how humans influence and are influenced by the
environment. This interaction is a two-way process:

Human Impact on the Environment

Pollution: Industrial, agricultural, and domestic activities release pollutants (air, water,
and soil contamination) that degrade environmental quality.

Deforestation: The clearing of forests for agriculture or urbanization affects biodiversity,

climate, and local ecosystems.

Climate Change: Human activities, particularly the burning of fossil fuels, contribute to
global warming and shifts in weather patterns.

Resource Depletion: Overuse of natural resources such as water, minerals, and fossil
fuels can lead to scarcity.

Urbanization and Industrialization: The expansion of cities and industries alters

landforms, reduces natural habitats, and increases the demand for resources.

Environmental Impact on Humans

Health: Pollution and poor environmental conditions can lead to respiratory problems,
waterborne diseases, and heat stress.

Agriculture: Environmental conditions like droughts, floods, and soil degradation can
directly affect crop yields and food security.

Climate: Changes in the climate, including rising sea levels and extreme weather
events, can displace communities, damage infrastructure, and disrupt economies.
This ongoing interaction highlights the need for sustainable practices to protect both the
environment and human well-being.

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 Dr. Md Abdur Rashid Sarker, Associate Professor, Dept. of ACEE, SAU

3. Environmental Engineering

Environmental Engineering is the branch of engineering that focuses on developing

solutions to environmental problems. It combines principles of engineering, biology,
chemistry, and physics to design systems, processes, and technologies that
minimize the negative impact of human activities on the environment. Environmental
engineering aims to improve public health, conserve natural resources, and ensure
sustainable development.

Key areas within environmental engineering include:

Water and Wastewater Treatment: Designing systems to purify drinking water, treat
wastewater, and ensure safe disposal of waste.

Air Pollution Control: Developing technologies to reduce emissions from industries,

transportation, and other sources, improving air quality.

Solid Waste Management: Managing the collection, recycling, and disposal of solid
waste to prevent pollution.

Environmental Impact Assessment: Evaluating the potential environmental impacts of

projects or developments to mitigate harm.

Sustainable Energy: Implementing renewable energy sources (solar, wind, etc.) to reduce
reliance on fossil fuels and lower environmental footprints.

The Role of the Environmental Engineer

The role of an Environmental Engineer involves applying engineering principles to
address environmental challenges and protect natural resources. Environmental
engineers are involved in the design, development, and implementation of
technologies and processes that promote sustainability and minimize the
environmental impact of human activities.

Key responsibilities of an environmental engineer include:

Designing Pollution Control Systems: Environmental engineers develop and

implement systems to reduce or eliminate pollution, such as air filters, wastewater
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 Dr. Md Abdur Rashid Sarker, Associate Professor, Dept. of ACEE, SAU

treatment plants, and solid waste recycling facilities.

Water and Wastewater Management: They design systems to treat drinking water,
manage stormwater, and treat industrial and municipal wastewater to ensure safe
discharge into the environment or reuse.

Environmental Remediation: Environmental engineers work on the cleanup of

contaminated sites (e.g., oil spills, hazardous waste) through techniques like soil
remediation, groundwater treatment, and waste management.

Sustainability and Resource Management: They help develop sustainable practices

for resource conservation, such as renewable energy systems, recycling programs, and
efficient resource usage.

Environmental Policy and Regulation: Environmental engineers work with

governments and organizations to develop policies, standards, and regulations aimed
at protecting the environment.

Research and Development: They conduct research to develop new technologies and
methods for pollution control, energy conservation, and environmental protection.

Risk Assessment and Environmental Impact Studies: They perform environmental

impact assessments for construction projects, industrial developments, or large-scale
agricultural activities to determine potential environmental risks and propose
mitigation strategies.

4. Environmental Pollution
Definition
Unfavorable alteration of natural components by physical, chemical, or biological
agents.
Types and Sources
1. Air Pollution: CO₂, SOx, NOx, PM2.5 (Sources: Industrial emissions, vehicles,
biomass burning).
2. Water Pollution: Nutrients (eutrophication), heavy metals, pathogens (Sources:
Sewage, agriculture runoff, industrial effluents).
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 Dr. Md Abdur Rashid Sarker, Associate Professor, Dept. of ACEE, SAU

3. Soil Pollution: Pesticides, plastics, solid waste dumping.

4. Noise and Thermal Pollution.
5. Emerging Pollutants: Microplastics, pharmaceuticals, nanomaterials.
Impacts
Human Health: Respiratory diseases, cancers, neurological disorders.
Ecosystem Health: Habitat destruction, species extinction.
Economic: Loss of productivity, healthcare costs.

Dhaka’s air quality & Buriganga River pollution.

Regulations and Frameworks

International: Stockholm Convention, Paris Agreement.
Bangladesh: Environmental Conservation Act (1995), DoE standards.

5. Environmental Protection and Management

Environmental Protection
Principles:
• Precautionary Principle
• Polluter Pays Principle
• Sustainable Use of Resources
Conservation
In-situ: National Parks, Biosphere Reserves.
Ex-situ: Seed banks, captive breeding programs.

Environmental Management
Tools: Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), Strategic Environmental
Assessment (SEA), Life Cycle Assessment (LCA).

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 Dr. Md Abdur Rashid Sarker, Associate Professor, Dept. of ACEE, SAU

Approaches: Cleaner Production Technologies, Integrated Waste Management,

Circular Economy Models.
Sustainable Development
Alignment with UN SDGs (Goals 6, 13, 14, 15).
Role of green technologies: Renewable energy, bioremediation, GIS & remote
sensing.

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 Dr. Md Abdur Rashid Sarker, Associate Professor, Dept. of ACEE, SAU

SPHERES OF THE EARTH

The Earth system is composed of several interconnected spheres, each playing a vital
role in sustaining life and maintaining the planet's balance. These spheres include the
atmosphere, hydrosphere, and lithosphere. Below is a detailed explanation of each
sphere, its components, and its significance.

1. The Atmosphere
The atmosphere is the layer of gases that surrounds the Earth. It plays a crucial role in
supporting life by providing oxygen, regulating climate, and protecting the planet
from harmful radiation.

a. Layers of the Atmosphere

The Earth's atmosphere is divided into five main layers, based on temperature
variations with altitude:

Troposphere (0 to 10 km)
 This is the lowest layer of the atmosphere, where weather phenomena (clouds,
rain, storms) occur. It contains about 75% of the atmosphere's mass.
 The temperature decreases with altitude.
 The boundary between the troposphere and the stratosphere is called the tropopause.

Stratosphere (10 to 50 km)

 Contains the ozone layer, which absorbs and scatters ultraviolet (UV)
solar radiation.
 The temperature increases with altitude due to the absorption of solar energy by
the ozone.
 The boundary between the stratosphere and the mesosphere is called the stratopause.

Mesosphere (50 to 85 km)

 In this layer, the temperature decreases with altitude. It is where most
meteorites burn up upon entering the atmosphere.
 The boundary between the mesosphere and the thermosphere is called
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 Dr. Md Abdur Rashid Sarker, Associate Professor, Dept. of ACEE, SAU

the mesopause.

Thermosphere (85 to 600 km)

 The temperature increases with altitude due to the absorption of high-energy
UV and X-ray radiation.
 This layer contains ions and is where the aurora borealis (northern lights)
occurs due to the interaction between charged particles and the Earth's
magnetic field.

Exosphere (600 km and above)

 The outermost layer, where atmospheric particles are very sparse and
gradually escape into space.
 The exosphere is the transition zone between the Earth's atmosphere and
outer space.

b. Composition of the Atmosphere

The atmosphere is primarily composed of a mixture of gases. The major components are:
Nitrogen (N₂): ~78% of the atmosphere.
Oxygen (O₂): ~21% of the atmosphere.
Argon (Ar): ~0.93% of the atmosphere.
Carbon dioxide (CO₂): ~0.04%, but this is increasing due to human activity.
Trace gases: Including neon, helium, methane, and ozone.
Water vapor (H₂O): Varies from 0-4% by volume, depending on location and weather
conditions.

c. Quality of the Atmosphere

The quality of the atmosphere is crucial for human health and life on Earth. It is
affected by:
Air Pollution: Emissions from vehicles, industries, and burning of fossil fuels release
pollutants like carbon monoxide (CO), nitrogen oxides (NOx), sulfur dioxide (SO₂),
particulate matter, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs).

Climate Change: The burning of fossil fuels increases the concentration of

greenhouse gases (especially CO₂ and methane), leading to global warming and

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 Dr. Md Abdur Rashid Sarker, Associate Professor, Dept. of ACEE, SAU

climate change.

Ozone Depletion: Human-made chemicals like chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) damage

the ozone layer, reducing its ability to block harmful UV radiation.

2. The Hydrosphere
The hydrosphere encompasses all the water on Earth, including water in the
atmosphere, oceans, lakes, rivers, ice, and underground aquifers. It plays a critical role
in sustaining life, regulating climate, and supporting the water cycle.

a. The Hydrologic Cycle (Water Cycle)

The hydrologic cycle describes the continuous movement of water through different
states (liquid, gas, solid) and locations on Earth. The cycle is driven by solar energy
and includes the following processes:

Evaporation: Water from oceans, lakes, rivers, and other bodies of water is heated by
the sun and turns into water vapor, rising into the atmosphere.

Transpiration: Plants release water vapor into the atmosphere through their leaves (a
process known as transpiration), contributing to the total moisture in the air.

Condensation: As the water vapor rises and cools in the atmosphere, it condenses into
tiny droplets, forming clouds.

Precipitation: When the water droplets in the clouds become too heavy to remain
suspended, they fall back to Earth as precipitation in the form of rain, snow, sleet, or
hail.
Runoff: Precipitation that falls on land either evaporates or flows over the surface as
runoff, entering rivers and streams, and eventually reaching oceans and lakes.

Infiltration and Percolation: Some water is absorbed into the soil and moves through
the ground, replenishing groundwater supplies in aquifers.

Storage: Water is stored in various reservoirs, including oceans, glaciers, lakes, rivers,
and underground aquifers, where it can remain for long periods before being released
or evaporated.
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 Dr. Md Abdur Rashid Sarker, Associate Professor, Dept. of ACEE, SAU

b. Distribution of Water on Earth

Oceans: Cover about 71% of the Earth's surface and contain about 97% of the Earth's
water.
Ice Caps and Glaciers: About 2% of Earth's water is locked in ice, primarily in the polar
regions.
Freshwater: Less than 1% of the Earth’s water is freshwater, found in rivers, lakes, and
underground reservoirs.
Groundwater: Represents a significant portion of the Earth's freshwater supply, stored in
porous rock layers beneath the surface.

3. The Lithosphere
The lithosphere refers to the rigid outer layer of the Earth, composed of the crust and
the uppermost part of the mantle. It is the solid Earth, including rocks, minerals,
and landforms, and it plays a key role in shaping the planet's surface.

a. Structure of the Lithosphere

Crust: The Earth's outermost layer, consisting of solid rock. It is divided into two main
types:

Oceanic Crust: Thinner and denser, primarily composed of basalt.

Continental Crust: Thicker and less dense, composed of granite and other rocks.
Mantle: Beneath the crust, the mantle is semi-solid and extends to about 2,900
kilometers below the Earth's surface. It is composed of silicate minerals and is
responsible for the Earth's internal heat, which drives tectonic processes.

b. Plate Tectonics
The lithosphere is divided into large, rigid pieces called tectonic plates that float on
the semi-fluid asthenosphere (a part of the mantle).
Plate Movements: The movement of these plates causes geological phenomena like
earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and mountain formation.
Divergent Boundaries: Plates move apart, creating mid-ocean ridges and new crust.
Convergent Boundaries: Plates move toward each other, leading to subduction, mountain
building, or volcanic activity.
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 Dr. Md Abdur Rashid Sarker, Associate Professor, Dept. of ACEE, SAU

Transform Boundaries: Plates slide past each other, causing earthquakes along faults
like the San Andreas Fault.

c. Landforms
The lithosphere also shapes the Earth's surface, creating various landforms such as
mountains, valleys, plains, and plateaus. These landforms are constantly evolving
through geological processes like erosion, sediment deposition, and tectonic activity.

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Dr. Md Abdur Rashid Sarker, Associate Professor, Dept. of ACEE, SAU

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