Environment Summary Class 7 Geography Chapter 1

Environment

• The term environment comes from the French word Environer/Environner, which means “neighbourhood”.
• The environment includes everything around a living organism, including people, objects, and nature. It consists of both natural and human-made elements.
• Humans interact with the environment and change it based on their needs.
• Components of the Environment:
  • Natural: Air (Atmosphere), Water (Hydrosphere), Land (Lithosphere), and Living things (Biosphere). The atmosphere is the thin layer of air surrounding the earth.
  • Human interactions: Individual, Family, Society, Religion, Education, Political Situation, and Economic factors.
  • Human-made: Parks, Buildings, Bridges, Roads, Industries, and Monuments.

Natural Environment

Anything surrounds any living organism which was not made by humans is a part of Natural Environment.

• Both biotic (living organisms) and abiotic (non-living organisms) are included in natural environment.
• The natural environment is classified into various domains:
  • Lithosphere
  • Hydrosphere
  • Atmosphere
  • Biosphere

Lithosphere

• This is the solid outer layer of the Earth.
• It consists of rocks and minerals, topped by a thin layer of soil.
• The surface is uneven, featuring various landforms like mountains, plateaus, plains, and valleys. These can be found on continents and ocean floors.
• This area provides forests and grasslands for grazing, as well as land for farming and human habitation.
• It is also a valuable source of minerals.

Hydrosphere

• Hydrosphere is the domain of water.
• It comprises various sources of water and different types of water bodies like rivers, lakes, seas, oceans, etc.
• It is essential for all living organisms.

Atmosphere

• The atmosphere is the thin layer of air that surrounds the earth.
• It consists of a number of gases, dust and water vapour.
  • The changes in the atmosphere produce changes in the weather and climate.
• The gravitational force of the earth holds the atmosphere around it.
• It protects us from the harmful rays and scorching heat of the sun.

Biosphere

• The living world is called Biosphere.
  • The plant and animal kingdom together make biosphere.
• It is a narrow zone of the earth where land, water and air interact with each other to support life.

Ecosystem

• An ecosystem is created by the interaction of all living organisms with one another and with their physical and chemical environment, linked by the flow of energy and materials.
• Plants, animals, and humans rely on each other and their surroundings to form an ecosystem.
• Ecosystems can exist in large rainforests, grasslands, deserts, mountains, lakes, rivers, oceans, and even small ponds.

Human Environment

• Human beings interact with the environment and change it to meet their needs.
• The environment is our essential life support system. It gives us the air we breathe, the water we drink, the food we eat, and the land we inhabit.
• Over time, human needs have increased and diversified.
• Humans discover new methods to use and alter the environment.
  • The invention of the wheel, production of surplus food, the emergence of the barter system, the start of trade, and the growth of commerce.
  • The industrial revolution allowed for large-scale production.
  • Transportation became faster.
  • The information revolution made communication quicker and easier worldwide.
• A perfect balance is vital between the natural and human environments. Humans must learn to live in harmony with their surroundings.