Amgad Salama

Ph.D. Environmental EngineeringJSPS Postdoctoral Fellow

Institute of Environmental SystemsKyushu University

ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRESS IN OUR ERA WITH APPLICATION TO

GROUNDWATER

• JSPS

• Ikeda High School, Kagoshima

• Prof. T. Esaki

• Mr. T. Yamashita

Acknowledgements:

Our universe as seen by Hubble Deep Field

Can you show me where is the earth?

A Realization of our Galaxy

Our Solar System

Basic Elements of Our Solar System

The Earth

EarthMars

What is it different between the earth and the other terrestrial planets?

The Earth is a dynamic Planet

It has cycles

It has life

Rock Cycle

Plate Tectonics

The Water Cycle

http://observe.arc.nasa.gov/nasa/earth/hydrocycle/hydro3.html

Source of Disturbance

Carbon Cycle

Nitrogen Cycle

Mechanisms by which mankind polluted our planet

1. Spreading of concentrated minerals over the globe.

2. Intervening into earth’s natural cycles.

3. Invention of new synthetic materials.

Spreading of concentrated minerals over the globe

1st Mechanism

Dust and grains begin to clump together. Collisions between larger and larger objects produce an asteroid-sized body （Accretion process）.

The growing body heats up and begins to melt.

Dense molten metal particles pool together and sink towards the center of the body. Lighter silicate liquid, or magma, rises towards the surface, leaving denser solid minerals in the mantle (Differentiation process).

The result: a layered, or differentiated, body with core, mantle, and crust.

So why is it that we find minerals concentrated in certain region rather than spreading allover?

Origin of Mineral Deposits

Mineral deposits can be classified on the basis of the mechanismresponsible for concentrating the valuable substance

• Hydrothermal Mineral Deposits

• Magmatic Mineral Deposits

• Sedimentary Mineral Deposits

• Placer Mineral Deposits

• Residual Mineral Deposits

http://www.tulane.edu/~sanelson/geol111/matenergy.htm

Consequences

• Clean Environment.

• Minerals are at concentrations that are feasible forextraction.

Mankind is spreading these materials throughout the globe by exploration and industrialization resulting in their concentration getting larger in the environment.

These materials have shown to adversely affect living organisms

Acute toxins

Chronic toxins

Carcinogens

heavy metals (arsenic, cadmium, mercury, etc.) are well known toxins, some acute, others chronic.

Corrosion of household plumbing systems; erosion of natural deposits

Infants and children: Delays in physical or mental development; children could show slight deficits in attention span and learning abilitiesAdults: Kidney problems; high blood pressure

0.015 Lead

Corrosion of household plumbing systems; erosion of natural deposits

Short term exposure: Gastrointestinal distress Long term exposure: Liver or kidney damage

1.3Copper

Corrosion of galvanized pipes; erosion of natural deposits; discharge from metal refineries; runoff from waste batteries and paints

Kidney damage 0.005 Cadmium

Erosion of natural deposits; runoff from orchards, runoff from glass & electronics production wastes

Skin damage or problems with circulatory systems, and may have increased risk of getting cancer

0.010 Arsenic

Discharge from petroleum refineries; fire retardants; ceramics; electronics; solder

Increase in blood cholesterol; decrease in blood sugar

0.006 Antimony

Sources of Contaminant in Drinking Water

Potential Health Effects from Ingestion of Water

MCL(mg/L)

Contaminant

MCL: Maximum Contaminant Level - The highest level of a contaminant that is allowed in drinking water.http://www.epa.gov/safewater/contaminants/index.html#1

A Sample of Drinking Water ContaminantsAccording to EPA

Intervening into earth’s natural cycles.

2nd Mechanism

Carbon Cycle

CO2 Emission and Global Warming

Calved Glaciers

Consequences

Desertification

Hurricanes

Glaciers

From "The Rumor Mill's Christmas on Clinton St." Angela McCluskey

“Frosty” The Snowman Melted By Global Warming

Invention of new synthetic material.

3rd Mechanism

Ozone Creation

Ozone Destruction

These materials have shown to adversely affect living organisms either directly or indirectly.

Ozone layer destruction is an example of the indirect effect

TIMELINE OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRESS IN THE 1900’s

PRE 1970

PRE EPA

70’s

EPA LAUNCHED

80’s

EPA MATURES

90’s

INDUSTRYLEADERSHIP/

RIO EARTH SUMMIT

2000 & BEYOND

SUSTAINABLEDEVELOPMENT

From: www.gemi.org/docs/conf2002/graphics/gemi2002/

•• Small but growing populationSmall but growing population•• Rural Society becoming more urbanRural Society becoming more urban•• Simple society becoming more complexSimple society becoming more complex•• DepressionDepression•• WarsWars•• Pollution: A Sign of ProgressPollution: A Sign of Progress

–– ShipsShips–– TrainsTrains–– FactoriesFactories

•• Industry focused on businessIndustry focused on business–– Believe resources are unlimitedBelieve resources are unlimited

PRE 1970PRE 1970PRE EPAPRE EPA

From: www.gemi.org/docs/conf2002/graphics/gemi2002/

•• Society begins to recognize pollution as a problemSociety begins to recognize pollution as a problem

–– Lake Erie dying.Lake Erie dying.–– Cayuga River on fire.Cayuga River on fire.–– Los Angeles smog.Los Angeles smog.–– Rachel CarsonRachel Carson’’s s ““Silent SpringSilent Spring””..

PRE 1970PRE 1970PRE EPAPRE EPA

From: www.gemi.org/docs/conf2002/graphics/gemi2002/

–– Nekoosa (Wisconsin) air pollution.Nekoosa (Wisconsin) air pollution.–– Green Lake/Castle Rock Lake/Wisconsin River Green Lake/Castle Rock Lake/Wisconsin River

water pollution.water pollution.–– Alloy West Virginia visibility.Alloy West Virginia visibility.–– Kanawha River oxygen level (WV).Kanawha River oxygen level (WV).–– Charleston, West Virginia fly ash.Charleston, West Virginia fly ash.

PRE 1970PRE 1970PRE EPAPRE EPA

From: www.gemi.org/docs/conf2002/graphics/gemi2002/

GroundwaterGroundwater

The Distribution of Water on EarthThe Distribution of Water on Earth

www.geo.arizona.edu/tectonics

The Hydrologic CycleThe Hydrologic Cycle

The continuous movement of The continuous movement of HH22O from one reservoir to O from one reservoir to

another.another.

The Hydrologic Cycle

Groundwater discharges from the

wall of Marble Canyon to form a series of natural

springs.

www.geo.arizona.edu/tectonics

% Cement% Cement

SortingSorting

FracturingFracturing

Some Technical Definitions: PorosityPorosity

Porosity varies withPorosity varies with

www.geo.arizona.edu/tectonics

Porosity and Permeability of Porosity and Permeability of Different Aquifer TypesDifferent Aquifer Types

Type of AquiferType of Aquifer PorosityPorosity PermeabilityPermeability

GravelGravel Very HighVery High Very HighVery HighCoarseCoarse-- to fine sandto fine sand HighHigh HighHighFineFine--grained sand & siltgrained sand & silt ModerateModerate Mod Mod -- LowLowSandstone, mod. cementedSandstone, mod. cemented Mod Mod -- LowLow LowLowFractured ShaleFractured Shale LowLow LowLowMetamorphic RocksMetamorphic Rocks LowLow Very LowVery LowUnfracturedUnfractured ShaleShale Very LowVery Low Very LowVery Low

Types of AquifersTypes of Aquifers

•• UnconfinedUnconfined Aquifer:Aquifer: the permeable the permeable layer extends to the surface. It consists layer extends to the surface. It consists of an of an unsaturatedunsaturated zone separated zone separated from the from the saturatedsaturated zone by the zone by the groundwater tablegroundwater table..

•• ConfinedConfined Aquifer:Aquifer: the permeable layer is the permeable layer is overlain and underlain by a less overlain and underlain by a less permeable layer (permeable layer (aquitardaquitard or or aquicludeaquiclude))

UnconfinedUnconfinedAquiferAquifer

Water TableWater Table

•• the top of the saturated zone of groundwaterthe top of the saturated zone of groundwater

•• the level to which water will rise in a holethe level to which water will rise in a hole

•• the level to which water will rise in anthe level to which water will rise in an unconfined unconfined aquiferaquifer

Dynamics of an Unconfined AquiferDynamics of an Unconfined Aquiferin a Temperate Climatein a Temperate Climate

During the Wet SeasonDuring the Wet Season……

During the Dry SeasonDuring the Dry Season……

Confined AquiferConfined Aquifer

Note the Difference Between:Note the Difference Between:

•• Groundwater Table:Groundwater Table: the level to which water the level to which water will rise in an will rise in an unconfinedunconfined aquiferaquifer

•• Pressure Surface:Pressure Surface: the level to which water the level to which water will rise in a will rise in a confinedconfined aquifer *aquifer *

* If the pressure surface is above the ground * If the pressure surface is above the ground surface, the water will flow freely out of the surface, the water will flow freely out of the ground. Such wells are called ground. Such wells are called flowing flowing artesian wellsartesian wells..

Perched Water TablePerched Water Table

Formation of a Cone of DepressionFormation of a Cone of Depression

Fissures and depressionsFissures and depressionscaused by caused by

ground subsidence ground subsidence due to due to overpumpingoverpumping

of groundwaterof groundwater

Dynamics of the Dynamics of the Saltwater Saltwater -- Fresh Water InterfaceFresh Water Interface

Some Major Features of a Some Major Features of a KarstKarst LandscapeLandscape

Some Human Activities that Can Some Human Activities that Can Contaminate GroundwaterContaminate Groundwater

Thank you