Overview of Overview of Environmental GeologyEnvironmental Geology

The Earth SystemThe Earth System

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

1994 Los Angeles 1994 Los Angeles EarthquakeEarthquake

Environmental GeologyEnvironmental Geology

• Humans depend on material resources from Humans depend on material resources from the Earththe Earth– MineralsMinerals– MetalsMetals– EnergyEnergy– SoilSoil– WaterWater

Human Population Human Population GrowthGrowth

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

The Earth SystemThe Earth System

The Earth SystemThe Earth System

Components of the Components of the Earth SystemEarth System

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

Types of ResourcesTypes of Resources

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

Per Capita Energy Per Capita Energy DemandDemand

Solar EnergySolar Energy

Natural Gas Natural Gas

Oil PumpjackOil Pumpjack

Aluminum OreAluminum Ore