The anthrosphere and technology Technology refers to the ways in which humans do and make things with materials and energy. In the modern era, technology is to a large extent the product of engineering based on scientific principles. Science deals with the discovery, explanation, and development of theories pertaining to interrelated natural phenomena of energy, matter, time, and space. Based on the fundamental knowledge of science, engineering provides the plans and means to achieve specific practical objectives. Technology uses these plans to carry out the desired objectives It is essential to consider technology, engineering, and industrial activities in udying environmental science because of the enormous influence that they have on the environment. Humans will use technology to provide the food, shelter, and goods that they need for their well-being and survival. The challenge is to interweave technology with considerations of the environment and ecology such that the two are mutually advantageous rather than in opposition to each other Technology, properly applied, is an enormously positive influence for environ- mental protection. The most obvious such application is in air and water pollution control. As necessary as"end-of-pipe" measures are for the control of air and water pollution, it is much better to use technology in manufacturing processes to prevent the formation of pollutants. Technology is being used increasingly to develop highly efficient processes of energy conversion, renewable energy resource utilization, and conversion of raw materials to finished goods with minimum generation of haz ardous waste by-products. In the transportation area, properly applied technology in areas such as high speed train transport can enormously increase the speed, energy efficiency, and safety of means for moving people and goods Until very recently, technological advances were made largely without heed to environmental impacts. Now, however, the greatest technological challenge is to reconcile technology with environmental consequences. The survival of humankind and of the planet that supports it now requires that the established two-way interaction between science and technology become a three-way relationshil including environmental protection. 1. 4. ECOLOGY AND THE BIOSPHERE The biosphere The biosphere is the name given to that part of the environment consisting of organisms and living biological material. Virtually all of the biosphere is contained by the geosphere and hydrosphere in the very thin layer where these environmental spheres interface with the atmosphere. There are some specialized life forms at extreme depths in the ocean, but these are still relatively close to the atmospheric nterface The biosphere strongly influences, and in turn is strongly influenced by, the other parts of the environment. It is believed that organisms were responsible for converting Earths original reducing atmosphere to an oxygen-rich one, a process that also resulted in the formation of massive deposits of oxidized minerals, such C 2000 CRC Press LlCThe Anthrosphere and Technology Technology refers to the ways in which humans do and make things with materials and energy. In the modern era, technology is to a large extent the product of engineering based on scientific principles. Science deals with the discovery, explanation, and development of theories pertaining to interrelated natural phenomena of energy, matter, time, and space. Based on the fundamental knowledge of science, engineering provides the plans and means to achieve specific practical objectives. Technology uses these plans to carry out the desired objectives. It is essential to consider technology, engineering, and industrial activities in studying environmental science because of the enormous influence that they have on the environment. Humans will use technology to provide the food, shelter, and goods that they need for their well-being and survival. The challenge is to interweave technology with considerations of the environment and ecology such that the two are mutually advantageous rather than in opposition to each other. Technology, properly applied, is an enormously positive influence for environ￾mental protection. The most obvious such application is in air and water pollution control. As necessary as “end-of-pipe” measures are for the control of air and water pollution, it is much better to use technology in manufacturing processes to prevent the formation of pollutants. Technology is being used increasingly to develop highly efficient processes of energy conversion, renewable energy resource utilization, and conversion of raw materials to finished goods with minimum generation of haz￾ardous waste by-products. In the transportation area, properly applied technology in areas such as high speed train transport can enormously increase the speed, energy efficiency, and safety of means for moving people and goods. Until very recently, technological advances were made largely without heed to environmental impacts. Now, however, the greatest technological challenge is to reconcile technology with environmental consequences. The survival of humankind and of the planet that supports it now requires that the established two-way interaction between science and technology become a three-way relationship including environmental protection. 1.4. ECOLOGY AND THE BIOSPHERE The Biosphere The biosphere is the name given to that part of the environment consisting of organisms and living biological material. Virtually all of the biosphere is contained by the geosphere and hydrosphere in the very thin layer where these environmental spheres interface with the atmosphere. There are some specialized life forms at extreme depths in the ocean, but these are still relatively close to the atmospheric interface. The biosphere strongly influences, and in turn is strongly influenced by, the other parts of the environment. It is believed that organisms were responsible for converting Earth’s original reducing atmosphere to an oxygen-rich one, a process that also resulted in the formation of massive deposits of oxidized minerals, such as © 2000 CRC Press LLC