Post on 19-Dec-2015
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Environmental GeologyEnvironmental Geology
• GeologyGeology – the study of the earth, its materials – the study of the earth, its materials and their properties, its internal and external and their properties, its internal and external physical, chemical, and biological properties, physical, chemical, and biological properties, and its historyand its history
Environmental GeologyEnvironmental Geology
• EnvironmentEnvironment – anything, living or nonliving, – anything, living or nonliving, that surrounds and influences living that surrounds and influences living organismsorganisms
Environmental GeologyEnvironmental Geology
• Environmental GeologyEnvironmental Geology – the application of – the application of geology to environmental concernsgeology to environmental concerns
Environmental GeologyEnvironmental Geology
• Geologic processes affect every inhabitant of Geologic processes affect every inhabitant of EarthEarth– EarthquakesEarthquakes– FloodsFloods– LandslidesLandslides– VolcanoesVolcanoes
Environmental GeologyEnvironmental Geology
• Geologic processes operate on multiple time Geologic processes operate on multiple time scalesscales– Slow geological processesSlow geological processes
• Formation of mineralsFormation of minerals• Evolution of the Earth’s atmosphereEvolution of the Earth’s atmosphere
– Fast geological processesFast geological processes• EarthquakesEarthquakes• LandslidesLandslides
Environmental GeologyEnvironmental Geology
• Humans depend on material resources from Humans depend on material resources from the Earththe Earth– MineralsMinerals– MetalsMetals– EnergyEnergy– SoilSoil– WaterWater
Environmental GeologyEnvironmental Geology
• Concepts in environmental geologyConcepts in environmental geology– The Earth SystemThe Earth System
• The Earth is uniqueThe Earth is unique• The Earth is a closed systemThe Earth is a closed system• Energy flows through the systemEnergy flows through the system• Matter cycles through the systemMatter cycles through the system• Geologic processes and humans operate on different Geologic processes and humans operate on different
time scalestime scales
Environmental GeologyEnvironmental Geology
• Concepts in environmental geologyConcepts in environmental geology– Hazardous ProcessesHazardous Processes
• Hazardous processes have always existedHazardous processes have always existed• Risk is a characteristic of the human-Earth system Risk is a characteristic of the human-Earth system
relationshiprelationship
Environmental GeologyEnvironmental Geology
• Concepts in environmental geologyConcepts in environmental geology– Earth ResourcesEarth Resources
• We are fundamentally dependent on Earth’s We are fundamentally dependent on Earth’s resources for the conduct of modern societyresources for the conduct of modern society
• Resources are limitedResources are limited• Earth’s resources can be managed properlyEarth’s resources can be managed properly
Environmental GeologyEnvironmental Geology
• Concepts in environmental geologyConcepts in environmental geology– WasteWaste
• Human activities generate waste – we do not throw Human activities generate waste – we do not throw anything “away”anything “away”
• Human activities can alter the Earth SystemHuman activities can alter the Earth System– Dam buildingDam building– UrbanizationUrbanization– AgricultureAgriculture– DeforestationDeforestation– Natural resource extractionNatural resource extraction
Environmental GeologyEnvironmental Geology
• Concepts in environmental geologyConcepts in environmental geology– The Human-Earth System RelationshipThe Human-Earth System Relationship
• Managing the Earth System involves managing Managing the Earth System involves managing human behaviorhuman behavior
Environmental GeologyEnvironmental Geology
• The scope of environmental geologyThe scope of environmental geology– Earth MaterialsEarth Materials
• Minerals, rocksMinerals, rocks
– Internal ProcessesInternal Processes• VolcanoesVolcanoes• EarthquakesEarthquakes
Environmental GeologyEnvironmental Geology
• The scope of environmental geologyThe scope of environmental geology– External ProcessesExternal Processes
• WaterWater• WindWind• IceIce
Environmental GeologyEnvironmental Geology
• The scope of environmental geologyThe scope of environmental geology– ResourcesResources
• GroundwaterGroundwater• Surface waterSurface water• MetalsMetals• SoilsSoils• EnergyEnergy
– Fossil fuelsFossil fuels– Non-fuel mineralsNon-fuel minerals