A surface acoustic wave element includes a single crystal base which has an annular surface formed by at least one portion of a spherical surface, and an exciting unit which excites a surface acoustic wave propagating along the annular surface. An electric signal processing apparatus includes the surface acoustic wave element, an input portion which inputs a predetermined signal to the exciting unit so that the wave is excited, a detecting unit which detects the propagating wave, and an output portion which outputs a signal corresponding to the wave detected by the detecting unit. An environment evaluating apparatus includes the processing apparatus, and a processing portion which evaluates an environment around the base, based on at least one of a frequency of the signal outputted by the processing apparatus, an intensity thereof, and time elapsing from a signal input time to a signal output time from the processing apparatus.