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Environmental Geology

This document provides an overview of the key concepts in environmental geology through a series of lecture slides. It discusses concepts like sustainability, systems thinking, limitations of resources, uniformitarianism, hazardous earth processes, and the relationship between humans and the earth system. The scope of environmental geology is explained as encompassing earth materials, internal/external geologic processes, resources, waste, and how managing the earth system involves managing human behavior. Examples of geologic hazards and alternative energy sources are also briefly mentioned.

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44 views

Environmental Geology

This document provides an overview of the key concepts in environmental geology through a series of lecture slides. It discusses concepts like sustainability, systems thinking, limitations of resources, uniformitarianism, hazardous earth processes, and the relationship between humans and the earth system. The scope of environmental geology is explained as encompassing earth materials, internal/external geologic processes, resources, waste, and how managing the earth system involves managing human behavior. Examples of geologic hazards and alternative energy sources are also briefly mentioned.

Uploaded by

jjsfavoriteslut
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Environmental Geology

Presentation · October 2019

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Osama Rahil Shaltami


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LECTURES FOR
UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS

ENVIRONMENTAL GEOLOGY

Dr. Osama Shaltami


Department of Earth Sciences
Faculty of Science, Benghazi University, Libya
Volcanoes Geological Hazards
Landslides
Floods

Earthquakes
Environmental Geology

• Geology – the study of the


earth, its materials and their
properties, its internal and
external physical, chemical,
and biological properties, and
its history
Environmental Geology

• Environment – anything, living or


nonliving, that surrounds and
influences living organisms
Environmental Geology

• Environmental Geology – the


application of geology to
environmental concerns
Environmental Geology

– Environmental Sciences:
How we influence the earth

– Geologic Hazards: How


geology influences us
Human Population Growth
Fundamental Concepts

II. SUSTAINABILITY is the environmental objective:


How to define? - resources, economy, lifestyles?
• population - multiple organisms in ecosystem, in
harmony
• energy policy - minimize pollution
• utilize renewable resources - need plan
• utilize nonrenewable resources - need plan
• social, legal, political system  sustainable global
economy (with balance of nature approach)
Fundamental Concepts

To Achieve a Sustainable Global Economy


• develop effective population control strategy
(education)
• completely restructure energy programs
• institute economic planning, financial aid and tax
incentives
• institute social, legal, political, and educational changes
with goal to maintain environmental quality
Fundamental Concepts

III. SYSTEMS: Earth is a System


(actually an open system made up of sub-systems)
• Mutual Interaction of:
1. atmosphere
2. hydrosphere
3. biosphere
4. lithosphere
• Earth is NOT STATIC
matter energy (constant interaction)
• FEEDBACK: Positive vs. Negative
(vicious cycle vs. self-regulation)
Fundamental Concepts

IV. LIMITATION OF RESOURCES:


Earth is the only suitable habitat we have, and the resources are
limited.
• some resources renewable, others not
• need large-scale recycling of many materials
Recycling: Pollutants = Resources out of place
Two Opposing Viewpoints
1. Finding resources is less problematic than finding ways
to use existing ones -- technology and ingenuity will
overcome lack of resources.
2. Resources are finite, so the above reasoning is
fallacious -- population increase with a finite resource
base cannot be sustained.
Fundamental Concepts

V. UNIFORMITARIANISM:
A fundamental concept in geology -- today’s physical
processes of modifying the landscape have operated
through time.
Natural vs. Artificially-induced changes in the
MAGNITUDE and FREQUENCY of processes
• floods
• landslides
• erosion
• subsidence
Fundamental Concepts

VI. HAZARDOUS EARTH PROCESSES:


There have always been Earth processes that are hazardous to
people.
• recognition and avoidance

Natural processes:
• Exogenetic = at or near surface, weathering, mass
wasting, erosion, etc.
• Endogenetic = internal, volcanic activity,
diastrophism
(Which of these can be human-assisted?)
Fundamental Concepts

VII. AESTHETIC CONSIDERATIONS:


Land and Water use planning must strive for a balance between
economics and aesthetics.

• Difficult to separate aesthetics from economy in the


LONG TERM
Evaluate this Balance:
• before building, development, civilization
Fundamental Concepts

VIII. FUTURE GENERATIONS:


• Effects of land use are CUMULATIVE and we have an
obligation to future generations
Environmental Geology
• Geologic processes affect every inhabitant of
Earth
– Earthquakes
– Floods
– Landslides
– Volcanoes
Environmental Geology
• Geologic processes operate on multiple time
scales
– Slow geological processes
• Formation of minerals
• Evolution of the Earth’s atmosphere
– Fast geological processes
• Earthquakes
• Landslides
Environmental Geology
• Humans depend on material resources from the
Earth
– Minerals
– Metals
– Energy
– Soil
– Water
Environmental Geology
• Concepts in environmental geology
– The Earth System
• The Earth is unique
• The Earth is a closed system
• Energy flows through the system
• Matter cycles through the system
• Geologic processes and humans operate on different
time scales
The Earth System
The Earth System
The Earth System
Components of the Earth System
Environmental Geology
• Concepts in environmental geology
– Hazardous Processes
• Hazardous processes have always existed
• Risk is a characteristic of the human-Earth system
relationship
Environmental Geology
• Concepts in environmental geology
– Earth Resources
• We are fundamentally dependent on Earth’s resources
for the conduct of modern society
• Resources are limited
• Earth’s resources can be managed properly
Types of Resources
Environmental Geology
• Concepts in environmental geology
– Waste
• Human activities generate waste – we do not throw
anything “away”
• Human activities can alter the Earth System
– Dam building
– Urbanization
– Agriculture
– Deforestation
– Natural resource extraction
Environmental Geology
• Concepts in environmental geology
– The Human-Earth System Relationship
• Managing the Earth System involves managing human
behavior
Environmental Geology
• The scope of environmental geology
– Earth Materials
• Minerals, rocks
– Internal Processes
• Volcanoes
• Earthquakes
Environmental Geology

• The scope of environmental geology


– External Processes
• Water
• Wind
• Ice
Environmental Geology

• The scope of environmental geology


– Resources
• Groundwater
• Surface water
• Metals
• Soils
• Energy
– Fossil fuels
– Non-fuel minerals
Per Capita Energy Demand
Geology in the News San Andreas Fault

Geologic Hazards
• Two die in 6.5
magnitude Earthquake
near San Lois Obispo
California
• Earthquake triggers
mudslides
Assessing Risk
“Major Quake Likely to
Strike San Francisco Bay
Region Between 2003 and
2032”

Geologic Hazards
• Assessing Risks
• Avoiding Risks
• Preventing Damage
• Predicting Impact
Earthquake
Bam, Iran
• A Magnitude 6.5
Earthquake hits a
stone- and mud-house
city of 100,000 in Iran
12-26-03
– 30,000 Dead
– 30,000 Refugees
• US sends aid and
releases sanctions
• Relations improved
Per Capita Energy Demand
Solar Energy
Natural Gas
Oil Pumpjack
Thanks
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