Here is the notes for Class 7 NCERT Geography – Chapter 1: Environment

Environment

• The place, people, things and nature that surround any living organisms is called environment.
• Environment: French word Environner means “neighbourhood”
• It has two component
• Biotic
  • The world of living organisms.
  • Example- Plants and Animals
• Abiotic
  • The world of non-living elements.
  • Example- land

Natural Environment

• Land, water, air, plants and animals comprise the natural environment.

Lithosphere

• Lithosphere is the solid crust or the hard top layer of the earth.
• It is made up of rocks and minerals and covered by a thin layer of soil.
• It is an irregular surface with various landforms such as mountains, plateaus, plains, valleys, etc.
• Landforms are found over the continents and also on the ocean floors.
• Lithosphere is the domain that provides us forests, grasslands for grazing, land for agriculture and human settlements.
• It is also a source of mineral wealth.

Hydrosphere

• The domain of water is referred to as hydrosphere.
•  It comprises various sources of water and different types of water bodies like rivers, lakes, seas, oceans, etc.

Biosphere

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

Biosphere

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

Ecosystem

• It is a system formed by the interaction of all living organisms with each other and with the physical and chemical factors of the environment in which they live, all linked by transfer of energy and material.
• Example- ecosystem of large rain forest, grassland, desert, mountains, lake, river, ocean and even a small pond.

Human Environment

• Human beings interact with the environment and modify it according to their need.
• Early humans adapted themselves to the natural surroundings.
• They led a simple life and fulfilled their requirements from the nature around them.
• With time needs grew and became more varied. Humans learn new ways to use and change environment.
• They learn to grow crops, domesticate animals and lead a settled life.
• The wheel was invented, surplus food was produced, barter system emerged, trade started and commerce developed.
  • Barter System: It is a trade in which goods are exchanged without the use of money.
• Industrial revolution enabled large scale production. Transportation became faster.
• Information revolution made communication easier and speedy across the world.