Dr. J. N.

Malik
Ph. 7723 (o) 8534 (R)
Email: javed@iitk.ac.in
Engineering
Geosciences
CE321A
An attempt to
understand
Dynamic Earth
2
Course content
Importance of geosciences in civil engineering

Plate tectonics Rock cycle (Continental drift, sea-floor
spreading, types of plates and plate motion)

Introduction to rock forming minerals (silicate structure,
physical and chemical properties of minerals)

Rocks:
Igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic rocks (texture;
engineering properties)

Plate Tectonics: Implication towards landscape change and
hazards/Risk

Geological Structures: fold, fault, joint, unconformity;
engineering applications
3
Course content

Seismology and Earthquakes:
Magnitude and intensity, seismic hazard, earthquake prediction

Mass wasting events: Lanslides, subsidnece etc.

Surface processes and landforms: River, Coastal and
groundwater

Environmental geology and Criteria for site selection of dams,
tunnels, waste disposal.

Text Books:
Keller, E, A., Environmental Geology, Prentice Hall, 9
th
edition,
2011.
Strahler, A., Introducing Physical Geography, John Wiley &
Sons, 5
th
edition, 2011.
Skinner, B. J., and Porter, S. C., The Dynamic Earth: An
Introduction to Physical Geology, John Wiley & Sons Inc., 5
th

edition, 2006.
Wicadner, R. & Monore, J.S. (1999) Essentials of Geology,
Wadsworth Pub.Co.
Merrits, D., Dewet, A. and Menking, K., (1998) Environmental
geology; an earth system science approach, Freeman
Ernst, W.G. (2000) Earth Systems processes and issues.
Cambridge University Press.

Distribution of Marks for
CE321A
Mid-Sem Exam 30%
End-Sem 40%
Lab 10%
Quiz 10%
Attendance 10%

First look at Planet Earth
Big Bang @ 12-15 billion years ago. This
explosion produced atomic particles that
later formed galaxies, stars and planets

Again at around 7 billion years ago another
explosion Supernova occurred
Origin of solar system @ 4.6 billion yr. ago
Resources
No other planet in the solar system
currently has the right chemical and
physical mix needed to support life.

No conclusive evidence of life existing
elsewhere in the universe has yet been
discovered as far as we know.

Earth is unique.

Mercury
Venus
Earth
Mars
Jupiter
Saturn
Uranus
Neptune
Pluto
Terrestrial planets are Rocky Planets
Jovian planets are Gas Giants
The Planets
The solar systems eight planets can be divided into two
groups:

The terrestrial planets: Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars.
Closest to the sun.
Small, rocky, and dense (3g/cm
3
or greater).

The Jovian planets: Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune
Farther from the sun than Mars.
Much larger than the terrestrial planets.
Much less dense (0.7-1.3g/cm
3
), with gases also known as gas
giants

(Pluto is a structural exception in the Jovian planets. Is it a planet
or an asteroid?)

Some fact related to Earth
Age of the Earth is 4.5-4.6 Billion years. This age was determined
through radiometric dating (Uranium, Thorium) by using Mass
Spectrometer (instrument).

Continents ~30% and Ocean basins ~70%

Sea level changes have occurred through time (Glaciers fluctuated)


Prominent features of the continents are
Linear mountain belts Circum-Pacific Belt & Alpine-Himalaya Belt

Prominent features of in oceans are
Ocean ridge systems. Continuous belt 65,000 km

Highest point on Earth?
Mt. Everest
(Himalayas) 8850 m.
Lowest point on Earth?
Mariana Trench -11,035 m. Deep
sea trenches are subduction zones.

Origin of Earth internal
structure
Initially the earth was cool,
with uniform composition

Composed of Silicon, Iron,
Magnesium, aluminum,
Oxygen
Repeated meteoritic impacts on Earth transferred the kinetic
energy into heat energy...

Heating was also added by radioactive decay of materials like
uranium, thorium and potassium also added heat...

Heating process started melting Iron+Nickel (heavier) and
segregated in the center, whereas, the lighter Si+Mg+Al floated
towards the surface...

Plate movements
Geothermal energy

16
Earth system
External processes
Hydrological cycle
The System Concept

The System Concept
A system in any portion of the
universe that can be isolated
from the rest of the universe
for observing and measuring
change.

The simplest kind to understand
is an isolated system.

The boundary completely
prevents the exchange of either
matter or energy.
The System Concept (2)
The nearest thing to an
isolated system in the real
world is a closed system:

i.e., such system has a
boundary that permits the
exchange of energy with
its surroundings, but not
matter.


The Earth System (1)
Earth is only approximately
a closed system because:

Because meteorites coming
from space and fall on
Earth, causes slight escape
of gases into space

Moreover, Earth is
comprised of four open
systems.
The Earth System (1)
The Earth system is composed of:
The geosphere (rocks).
The atmosphere (air).
The hydrosphere (water).
The biosphere (life in all its forms).

Energy and materials (like water,
carbon, and minerals) are
transferred from one system to
another.

To a close approximation, Earth is
a closed system.

An open system can exchange
both energy and matter across
its boundary.
open system
An open system can exchange
both energy (sunlight) and
matter across its boundary.
Open system
The geosphere (rocks).
The atmosphere (air).
The hydrosphere
(water).
The biosphere (life in all
its forms).





Human Influences
We human are influencing Earths
external geologic processes.
More than 6 billion people.
Human Influences (2)
Our daily activities are having measurable
effects on:

Rainfall.
Climate.
Air.
Water quality.
Erosion.
To have proper understanding of the
earth processes it is essential to know
various natural process related to the
Earth and its Environment:

Internal processes

External processes
Geology and geological processes
Geology: is the science of Earth.
We study the Earths processes, such
as:
Volcanism
Glaciation
Stream-flow
Rock formation
We need to know the chemistry of
the Earth material
To understand:
Minerals.
Dissolved minerals.
Minerals resources.
Rocks formation.
Ground water.

Also Study :(2)
Physics, to understand:
Plate tectonics.
Volcanism.
Earthquakes.
Landslides.

Biology, to understand:
How life processes integrate with other Earth
systems.
How life has evolved.
Fossils in the rocks.
We need to know the drainage
system on the earth surface
Meteorology, to understand:
Stream flow.
Groundwater levels.

Oceanography, to understand:
Seafloors role in plate tectonics.
Shorelines.


What Do Earth Scientists Do ?
They seek to understand all processes
that operate on and inside the Earth.
They study:
Our planets long history.
Water bodies (rivers and lakes)
Hazardous processes such as earthquakes, volcanic
eruptions, flood, and landslides
Rocks
Spot surface patterns.
They use ground-penetrating radar.
Physical Versus Historical Geology
Historical geology
Chronology of events, both physical and
biological, that have occurred in the past.
The past is the biggest clue to the
present.

Physical geology
Concerned with understanding the
processes and the materials.