The earth is 5 billion years old. It is the only celestial body where life exists and the only known habitable planet for man. Land, oceans and the atmosphere are connected with each other.
The original atmosphere was devoid of oxygen and consisted mainly of hydrogen, ammonia, methane, carbon monoxide, hydrogen supplied and a few other small molecules which were unable to sustain life as we know today. However, photochemical reactions have played an important role in the generation of oxygen. It was because oxygen that life on earth could be made possible.
The earth system that has evolved towards its present state of high complexity in continuous interaction with man and biota that inhibit it. The present concern is to understand the relationship between environment and life, it can sustain on earth.
The term ecology means the study of relationship between living things and their environment which is important to understand the development of the earth’s atmosphere and evolution of life. The composition of the atmosphere has been greatly influenced by the processes involving living organisms and their activities.
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The word environment is derived from the French word ‘environ’, means surround or encircle. The environment consists of biotic and abiotic substances. So, we can define “Environmental Sciences is the application of all fields of natural science towards solving environmental problems” Zoology, Botany, Geochemistry, Biochemistry, Chemistry, Geology, Physics, Meteorology and many other branches/disciplines are included in the Environmental Sciences.
Education and mass communication do help in understanding the socio-economic aspects of environment. Mathematics, Statistics and Computer Science also help in management of environment. The Environmental Sciences is, therefore, a multidisciplinary science, which may require attention of experts from different discipline/ branches of science when decisions regarding environment related matters have to be taken.
Environmental studies/sciences courses are most rapidly growing courses in under-graduate and post-graduate level at many universities in the India. Individual branch/subjects are developing Environmental Sciences, Environmental Biology, Environmental Chemistry, Environmental Geology and many similar courses to address society’s changing needs.