GLG 110

Part 1

Chapter 1

Philosophy and Fundamental Concepts

1.1 Introduction to Environmental Geology

Earth is about 4.6 billion years old

Life began about 3 billion years ago

Humans are a rather modern addition to Earth

Environmental Geology is applied Geology, applied to the quality of life       

1.2 How Geologists Work: The Scientific Method

Hypothesis (Idea)

Testing and Collecting Data (only what can be experienced with your senses)

Accepting or Rejecting the Hypothesis

Theory (this is not “the ultimate truth”!!)

1.3 Culture and Environmental Awareness

Entire way of life from one generation to the next

We look to the past to see where we came from

We look in the future to solve environmental problems

Major adjustments in the way we live today are necessary

All people must contribute

1.4 Environmental Ethics

Land ethics means being responsible towards the total environment (e.g. plants, animals, atmosphere, etc.)

1.5 The Environmental Crisis

We live in an environmental crisis!

Crisis is a result of: overpopulation, urbanization, and industrialization coupled with too little ethical regard for the “land”

1.6 Fundamental Concepts of Environmental Sciences

            CONCEPT ONE: Population Growth

            Number one environmental problem!

            More people means more disruptions of the environment (see Fig. 1.5)

            CONCEPT TWO: Sustainability

This is the environmental objective.

We are using natural resources faster than they can be replenished. Result: shortage of some resources. In the 90s: “Save the planet.” Don’t worry, Earth will survive us and clean itself after humans have become extinct. As humans we are concerned with the quality of a “human environment”. Today’s global economy is NOT sustainable. Environments upon which humans depend are in danger of collapse.

What is a sustainable environment?

- living in harmony with natural support systems (e.g. air, water, land)

- energy policy that does not pollute

- utilization plan for renewable resources (e.g. water, forests, agricultural land, etc.)

- utilization plan for nonrenewable resources (e.g. fossil fuels, minerals)

We need to develop a population-control strategy.

This includes:

- restructuring our energy programs

- institute economic planning, including a new tax structure

- institute social, legal, political, and educational changes

            CONCEPT THREE: Systems

Earth is an open system regarding energy (incoming energy from sun, radiation of energy into space), but a closed one regarding materials (very little in added or subtracted).

System: Is any defined part of the universe we select to study (e.g. volcano, river).

The Earth system has several parts:

- atmosphere (air)

- hydrosphere (water)

- biosphere (life)

- lithosphere (rocks, soil)

These part are interactive, changing one part will result in changes of the other parts (principle of environmental unity).e.g. emissions from automobile exhausts (CO2) will change the atmosphere, which in turn will change weather patterns elsewhere.

The Earth is a dynamic planet!!

- feedback (positive or negative)

- growth rates (doubling time)

- predicting changes in systems

- input-output analysis (average residence time of gases for example)

- balance of nature” (equilibrium)

- complex response, thresholds, disturbance

CONCEPT FOUR: Limitation of Resources

            Earth is the only suitable habitat we have, and its resources are limited

We need large-scale recycling of many materials (e.g. metals)

Pollutants may be considered resources out of place.

            CONCEPT FIVE: Uniformitarianism

“The present is the key to the past” James Hutton (Father of Geology; Earth as a super organism)

Gaia Hypothesis (by James Lovelock):

- Life significantly affects the planetary environment. (generally accepted)

- Life affects the environment for the betterment of life. (somewhat accepted)

- Life deliberately controls the global environment. (generally not accepted, exception: humans can do this)

            CONCEPT SIX: Hazardous Earth Processes

There have always been hazardous processes for humans; there fore we want to recognize them and avoid them.

Concentration of population increase affects of hazards on people.

Example for natural hazards:

- flooding

- earthquakes

- volcanic eruptions

- landslides

- mudflows

            CONCEPT SEVEN: Geology as a Basic Environmental Science

Geology is the fundamental component in any person’s environment!!

Some aspects:

- geomorphology (surface and landforms)

- petrology (rocks)

- sedimentology (deposition)

- tectonics (continents, oceans, mountains)

- hydrogeology (water)

- pedology (soils)

- economic geology (mining for profit)

- engineering geology (engineering problems)

Environmental Geology is a multi-disciplined and interdisciplinary approach.

It contains: biology, conservation, atmospheric science, chemistry, environmental law, architecture, engineering, as well as physical, cultural, economic, and urban geography.

            CONCEPT EIGHT: Our Obligation to the Future

            Effects on land use are cumulative, and therefore we have an obligation to those who follow us.

Early impacts: use of fire, settlements, agriculture

Modern impacts: Industrial Revolution

Human activity is the most significant process shaping the surface of the planet.

Review “Some Questions to Think About” on page 23.