Environmental geology: basic concepts

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Projected global population for the year 2050 is > 9 billion

http://www.populationmedia.org/cartooncontest/2004/index.html

More people

Increased demands for:

Food??? Shelter

Jobs

Clothing Health care ???

Waste disposal

http://www.breathingearth.net/

http://www.esa.int/esaLP/SEM84CVHESE_index_3.html

So what does it have to do with geology?

Growing more food/clothing

Soil and water issues

More shelter Natural hazards

Energy/industry needsMining issues

More waste products Waste disposal issues

Climate issues

http://www.huaren.com/UnitedNations/photo-1.htm

"PULITZER  PRIZE"  winning  photo  taken  in  1994  during  the  Sudan  famine The  picture  depicts  a  famine  stricken  child  crawling  towards  an  United  Nations  food  camp,  located  a  kilometer  away. The  vulture  is  waiting  for  the  child  to  die  so  that  it  can  eat  it. 

http://www.noaanews.noaa.gov/stories2007/images/katrina-biloxi-miss-trailers-newsprint-2005.jpg

THEMATIC SLIDES

People and Planet

Daylight Map of the World

People and Planet

U.N. Population Division report World Urbanization Prospects: 2003 Revision; BP Statistical Review of World Energy June 2005; GEO Year Book 2006; WRI 2005

• The developed world is 75% urban and the rate is accelerating in the developing world; By 2030 urban population is expected to rise to five billion or 60% of the world’s population

• Primary energy consumption increased globally by 4.3% in 2004

• As much as 60% of the global population depends on the waters of international fresh water systems - rivers and lakes of which basins are shared by more than two countries

• There are now over 117 000 protected areas worldwide; this amounts to 15% of the total territorial surface of the Earth, including all land area and territorial sea area up to the 12 nautical miles limit

• 35% of mangroves have been lost in the last two decades; 20% of known coral reefs have been destroyed and another 20% degraded in the last several decades

Introduction: A Story of ChangeHuman influences on the planet

• Population

• World Energy Consumption

• Water Pollution

• Biodiversity

• Invasive Species

• Protected Areas

• Air Pollution in Copsa Mica and the Black Triangle

Our growing population

Population Change from 1900-2000

Impact of civil wars on population of Parrot’s Beak, Guinea

These images show the impact of Civil Wars in Liberia on neighboring Guinea

• 1974: Image of the Parrot’s Beak region in Guinea

• 2002: The light green color is the result of deforestation in the “safe area” where refugees set up camp

Population growth around Lake VictoriaUganda

8.5711.71

16.05

22.13

30.51

41.80

47.23

0.00

10.00

20.00

30.00

40.00

50.00

1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010 2015

Total Population

Total Human Population Living around Lake Victoria (millions)

Note: Figures for 2010 and 2015 are estimates.

Lake Victoria vs. African population growth

4561

84

115

159

9 12 16 21 26 32 36

218

246

0

50

100

150

200

250

1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010 2015

Lake Victoria Africa AverageNote: Figures for 2010 and 2015 are estimates.

Population explosion around buffer zoneAfrica

• Population growth around a 100 km buffer zone of Lake Victoria

• Population growth around Lake Victoria, East Africa, is the highest in Africa

World energy consumption pattern

World Energy Consumption between 1800 - 1990

World Primary Energy Consumption since 1970, projected to 2025

Oil extraction in Fort McMurray, Canada

Vast reserves of low quality oil underlie the Boreal Forest surrounding Fort McMurray

By early 2006 the mining operation covered an area roughly 30 km by 20 km

On 14 August 2003, parts of northeastern United States and southeastern Canada experienced widespread power blackouts

Power outage in North America

Biodiversity

Targets

Reverse loss of biodiversity by 2010 (WSSD, 2002)

Reverse loss of forest cover by 2015 (UNFF, 2005)

Protected Areas of Kumaon region, India

E. Kameng

Sonitpur

W. Kameng

Papum Pare

Darrang

India

North-East India

Study Area

Study Area:

Kumaon Himalaya

Habitat evaluation of Sambar and Muntjak in

Ranikhet forests in Sonitpur,

India

Habitat loss (1999-2002)

Habitat loss (1994-2002)

Habitat loss (1994-1999)a

b

c

Increasing disturbances results in decreasing habitat, India

Because of increasing disturbances, the wildlife habitats in

Kumaon region are shrinking

Shrinking habitat in Kumaon, India

Moist Deciduous Moist Deciduous (Degraded)

Evergreen

Semi-EvergreenEvergreen (Degraded)Semi-Evergreen (Degraded)

Grassland

Non-Forest

Sonai-Rupai RF Chardua

r RF

Nowduar

RF

BaliparaRF Nameri

NP

BiswanathRF

Behali

RF

ARUNACHAL

PRADESH

ASSAM

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

Evergreen

Semi-Evergreen

Moist Deciduous

Degraded Forest

Grassland

No. of FamiliesNo. of GeneraNo. of SpeciesS.-W. Index (*10)

Habitat types

Spe

cies

att

ribu

tes

Invasive species attacking Lake VictoriaAfrica

These images show water hyacinth infestation and control of such invasive species

• 1995: Image shows several water-hyacinth-choked bays (yellow arrows)

• 2001: A visible reduction of water hyacinth on Lake Victoria

1990-2004: Impact of mining on river systems

Discharge of waste and pollution into River

Water pollution due to copper mine, Papua New Guinea

Biodiversity in ecosystems and species in Mount Kenya, Kenya

These images show high diversity in ecosystems and species

• 2000: The entire forest belt of Mount Kenya was gazetted as National Reserve

•2002: The image shows significant improvement in the state of conservation of forests

• The area is classified as “environmental disaster area”

• In 1989, the area was exposed as one of the most polluted places

Copşa Micâ – Environmental disaster areaRomania

• 1975: The gray areas are surface mines located primarily in the Czech Republic

• 2000: The image reveals somewhat improved vegetation cover

Air-borne pollutants being trapped in Black Triangle, Czech Republic

One Planet Many People: Atlas of Our Changing Environment

Thank You!Free Downloads:

www.na.unep.net

Purchase:

www.Earthprint.com

Human influences on the planet

Some human impacts being recorded in rocks

• Changes in physical sedimentation by increased erosion and deposition

• Biotic extinctions due to global temperature change, habitat destruction…

• Changes in oceans due to sea-level rise, increasing acidity of ocean waters