What is Environment?

ENVIRONMENT

The term "Environment" is widely used and its has a broad range of meanings, definitions and interpretations. Its definition is continuously changing due to the fact that our Earth and Environment is continuously undergoing dynamic procedures.

DEFINITION

The most simplest definition of Environment is "Everything around us including biotic (living) and abiotic (non-living) components". By adding one more thing this definition can be made complete which is neither biotic nor abiotic. It is human behavior, norms and culture morals, traditions and ethics.

In the literal context, Environment means "surroundings" (environs); hence the environment of an individual, object, element or system includes all of the other entities with which it is surrounded. However, in reality, individuals, objects, elements and systems rarely exist in isolation; instead, they tend to interact to varying extents with their surrounding entities.

Another definition of environment is that "it includes all the physical, chemical and biological components surrounding an entity or person that can affect the entity or person and in return can be effected by the entity or person".

According to P. Gisbert,

“Environment is anything immediately surrounding an object and exerting a direct influence on it.”

According to E. J. Ross,

“Environment is an external force which influences us.”

In short, Environment is the sum total of conditions in which an organism has to survive or maintain its life process. It influences the growth and development of living forms.

COMPONENTS OF ENVIRONMENT

It consists of atmosphere, hydrosphere, lithosphere and biosphere. Another sphere Asthenosphere also comes in its components which is a man made system. It’s chief components are soil, water, air, organisms and solar energy. It has provided us all the resources for leading a comfortable life.