1. Introduction to Environmental Geology

2. What is Environmental Geology?
the application of geological data and information for people's needs and the improvement of our environment
How to avoid/minimize impacts from geologic hazards
How to find and use resources wisely: water, minerals, etc.
How to dispose of waste wisely: solid, water, etc.

3. Fundamental Concepts of Environmental Geology
Geology as a basic environmental science
Population growth
Sustainability
The earth system
Uniformitarianism
Hazardous earth processes

4. Fundamental Concepts-Population Growth
Population Growth is the #1 environmental problem
Why?

5. Fundamental Concepts-Population Growth
It is impossible to support exponential population growth with a finite resource base
Primary goal of environmental work is to defuse the population bomb
Pessimistic: the earth will take care of itself through disease and catastrophes
Optimistic: find better ways to control population growth within the limits of our available resources

6. Fundamental Concepts-Sustainability
Sustainability is the environmental objective
We are currently using most living environmental resources faster than they can be naturally replenished
What would we need for a sustainable global economy?
Populations of humans in natural harmony with air, water, and land
Energy policies that do not pollute or cause climatic perturbations
Utilization plans for renewable resources (Recycling)
Utilization plans for nonrenewable resources

7. Fundamental Concepts-The earth system
Understanding the earth’s systems and their changes is critical to solving environmental problems.
The earth itself is
an open system with respect to energy
a closed system with respect to material

9. How do we predict the consequences of earth system changes?
Understand the nature of the system
Understand rates of change
Conduct input-output analysis

10. Fundamental Concepts-The earth system
Feedback
A system response where: System output (something happening) is a new system input
Positive and negative feedback
Input-output analysis

11. Fundamental Concepts-The earth system
1. Positive feedback-- "vicious cycle"
a. one action intensifies the next (example: erosion)
2. Negative feedback-- "self-regulating" enables the system to reach a steady state or equilibrium (example: stream morphology).
3. Threshold events -- No apparent changes until threshold levels are reached (Lake Turnover).

12. Fundamental Concepts-The earth system
Negative Feedback
Stream
A. Increase gradient
B. Increases the river's velocity, which
C. Increases the rate of erosion, which
D. Widens and deepens channel, which
E. Slows rivers velocity
F. promotes deposition
G. reduces gradient

13. Fundamental Concepts-The earth system
Example of threshold event
Lake turnover

14. Fundamental Concepts-The earth system
Input-output analyses
Input = output
Steady state: no net change
Input < output
Input > output

15. Fundamental Concepts- Uniformitarianism
James Hutton, 1785
“the present is the key to the past”
Geologic processes modifying our landscape have operated in the past
Human activity is a new geological force
Affects the magnitude and frequency of geologic processes
“the present is the key to the future”

16. Fundamental Concepts- Hazardous Earth Processes
Some geologic hazards are inevitable
Planning is important
The impacts of hazardous earth processes are enhanced by spatial concentration of population and resources
Should be considered in cost-benefit analysis

17. Fundamental Concepts-Geology as a basic environmental science
Geology is a factor in every person’s life:
“Civilization exists by geological consent…subject to change without notice”--Will Durant

18. Fundamental Concepts-Geology as a basic environmental science
Branches of Environmental Geology:
Geomorphology (Geologic Landforms and Processes)
Hydrogeology (Water and soil / rock interactions)
Pedology (Soils)
Economic geology
Engineering geology
Classical geology

19. Fundamental Concepts-Geology as a basic environmental science
Environmental problems are interdisciplinary
Physical
Geography, geologic processes, hydrology, rock types, soil types, climate
Biological
Plants, animals, biologic conditions, spatial analysis of biologic information
Human interest/use
Land use, economics, aesthetics, environmental law, hazards, historical/archaeological value

20. “To know one’s ignorance is the best part of knowledge.”
Hazards & Risks
“To know one’s ignorance is the best part of knowledge.”
Lao Tzu, The Tau, #71

21. Types of hazards Natural Technological
Mixed (natural influenced by humans)

22. Types of hazards
Condition
Process
Event

23. To predict a hazardous event
1. Historical knowledge
2. Monitoring and data gathering
3. Understanding of hazardous process
4. Must have rules to determine success

24. Risk: how safe is safe? What is risk? What is acceptable risk?
Depends on your VALUES
“What is our society willing to pay for our quality of life and life style?”
Paradox of risk reduction

25. RISK ASSESSMENT
An attempt to assess objectively a public health or other environmental risk
1. Source/release assessment
Likelihood and scale of a potential release of hazardous material
2. Exposure assessment
What will reach whom

26. RISK ASSESSMENT 3. Dose-response assessment 4. Risk characterization
To estimate the impact of exposure on human health
4. Risk characterization
To collate all of the information in a useful way
Involves great UNCERTAINTY

27. Human response to hazards: Risk and Policy
1. Modify the hazards through human intervention
2. Redistribute the losses caused by a hazard
3. Decrease the vulnerability (Planning)

28. Magnitude vs. frequency
Usually inversely related
Affects “hazard perception”

29. Disaster prediction and warning
Location
Probability occurrence
Forecasting
Warning
Go public
Problems?

30. Catastrophe
When a natural disaster results in damages (people or property) that require a long involved process of recovery

31. Model of recovery Phase 1: emergency Phase 2: restoration
Phase 3: restoration I
Phase 4; restoration II

32. Phase 1: Emergency (days)
Normal activities stop
Search and rescue
Emergency shelter/feeding
Capital damaged or destroyed

33. Phase 2: Restoration (weeks-months)
Normal activities return but at minimal levels
Restoration of urban services
Return of refugees
Capital patched

34. Phases 3 & 4: Reconstruction I & II (months-years)
Normal activities return to predisaster levels
Capital rebuilt (replaced)
Activities improved and developed
Capital improved beyond predisaster levels
Disaster preparedness & response improved

36. Effects of Selected Hazards in the U.S. (as of 2002)

37. Effects of Selected Hazards in the U.S. (Table 4.1, p. 91)