Introduction to

Environmental Geology
What is Environmental
Geology?
theapplication 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.
Fundamental Concepts of
Environmental Geology
Population growth Geology as a basic
Sustainability environmental
science
The earth system
Uniformitarianism
Hazardous earth
processes
Fundamental Concepts-
Population Growth
Population Growth is the #1
environmental problem
Why?
www.prb.org
Fundamental Concepts-
Population Growth
It is impossible to support exponential
population growth with a finite resource
base
1) Primary goal of environmental work is to
defuse the population bomb
1) Pessimistic: the earth will take care of itself through
disease and catastrophes
2) Optimistic: find better ways to control population
growth within the limits of our available resources
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
Fundamental Concepts-The
earth system
The earth system
Understanding the earths 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
How do we predict the
consequences of earth system
Understand the nature of the
changes?
system
Understand rates of change
Conduct input-output analysis
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
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).
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
Fundamental Concepts-The
earth system
Example of threshold event
Lake turnover
Fundamental Concepts-The
earth system
Input-output analyses
Input = output
Steady state: no net change
Input < output
Input > output
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
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
Fundamental Concepts-Geology as a
basic environmental science

Geology is a factor in every persons

life:
Civilization exists by geological
consentsubject to change without
notice--Will Durant
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
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
 Hazards & Risks
To know ones ignorance is
the best part of knowledge.
Lao Tzu, The Tau, #71
 Types of hazards
Natural
Technological
Mixed (natural influenced by
humans)
 Types of hazards

Condition
Process
Event
 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
 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
 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
 RISK ASSESSMENT
3. Dose-response assessment
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

 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)
 Magnitude vs. frequency
Usually inversely related
Affects hazard perception
 Disaster prediction and warning
Location
Probability occurrence
Forecasting
Warning
Go public
Problems?
 Catastrophe
When a natural disaster results in damages
(people or property) that require a long
involved process of recovery
 Model of recovery
Phase 1: emergency
Phase 2: restoration
Phase 3: restoration I
Phase 4; restoration II
 Phase 1: Emergency
(days)
Normal activities stop
Search and rescue
Emergency shelter/feeding
Capital damaged or destroyed
 Phase 2: Restoration
(weeks-months)
Normal activities return but at minimal
levels
Restoration of urban services
Return of refugees
Capital patched
 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
 Effects of Selected Hazards in the U.S.
(as of 2002)
Hazard Deaths/yr. occurrence Catastrophic
influenced by potential
humans?
flood 86 yes H
earthquake 50+ yes H
landslide 25 yes M
volcano 1 no H
coastal 0 yes L
erosion
expansive 0 no L
soils
 Effects of Selected Hazards in the U.S.
(Table 4.1, p. 91)
Hazard Deaths/yr. occurrence Catastrophic
influenced by potential
humans?
hurricane 55 no H
tornado 218 no H
lightning 120 ? L
drought 0 ? M
freeze 0 no L