ENVIRONMENTAL GEOLOGYENVIRONMENTAL GEOLOGY PHILOSOPHY & FUNDAMENTAL PHILOSOPHY & FUNDAMENTAL

CONCEPTSCONCEPTS

DR. ADLY Kh. ALDR. ADLY Kh. AL--SAAFINSAAFINEngEng’’g. / Env. Geologyg. / Env. Geology

KFUPM KFUPM -- DHAHRANDHAHRAN

SourcesSourcesKeller, E. A., 1999, “Environmental Geology”Murk, B. W. et. al, 1996, “Environmental Geology”Montgomery, C. W., 1997, “Environmental Geology”Lundgren, L. W., 1999, “Environmental Geology”Some other Technical and Professional Articles………….

OUTLINEOUTLINEI. WHY DO WE NEED ENVIRONMENTAL

GEOLOGY? II. CULTURE & ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESSIII. ENVIRONMENTAL ETHICSIV.ENVIRONMENTAL CRISISV. FUNDAMENTAL CONCEPTS OF

ENVIRONMENTAL GEOLOGY VI.GEOLOGY AS A BASIC ENV. SCIENCES VII.SCIENTIFIC METHOD

I.I. WHY DO WE NEED ENVIRONMENTAL WHY DO WE NEED ENVIRONMENTAL GEOLOGY?GEOLOGY?

II.II. CULTURE & ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESSCULTURE & ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESSIII.III. ENVIRONMENTAL ETHICSENVIRONMENTAL ETHICSIV.IV. ENVIRONMENTAL CRISISENVIRONMENTAL CRISISV.V. FUNDAMENTAL CONCEPTS OF FUNDAMENTAL CONCEPTS OF

ENVIRONMENTAL GEOLOGYENVIRONMENTAL GEOLOGYVI.VI. GEOLOGY AS A BASIC ENV. SCIENCES GEOLOGY AS A BASIC ENV. SCIENCES VII.VII.SCIENTIFIC METHOD SCIENTIFIC METHOD

I.I. WHY DO WE NEED WHY DO WE NEED ENVIRONMENTAL GEOLOGY?ENVIRONMENTAL GEOLOGY?

1.1. Increasing of population growthIncreasing of population growth rate;rate;2.2. Expectation of a higher standard of living;Expectation of a higher standard of living;3.3. Expanding demand of natural resources;Expanding demand of natural resources;4.4. Conversion of undeveloped land;Conversion of undeveloped land;5.5. Environmental awareness;Environmental awareness;6.6. Environmental ethics;Environmental ethics;7.7. The growth in Public policyThe growth in Public policy ((i.e. i.e.

environmental studies should be madeenvironmental studies should be made……).).8.8. ----

II.II. EEnvironmental Awarenessnvironmental Awareness

The integration of the environment into our The integration of the environment into our daily lifedaily life is dependent on:is dependent on:

1. Physical, Chemical, and biological conditions of the earth’s environment.

2. Socio-economic, and cultural conditions that influence the earth’s environment.

Environmental awarenessEnvironmental awareness involves the entire way of life that we have transmitted from one generation to another (FutureFuture).

II.II. EEnvironmental Awarenessnvironmental AwarenessTo understand the roots of our present conditionTo understand the roots of our present condition

look to the pastlook to the pastTo solve environmental problemsTo solve environmental problems

look to the futurelook to the futurePopulation and industrial revolutionPopulation and industrial revolution will change the will change the relationship between relationship between Man & EarthMan & Earth’’s Environment:s Environment:

Shortage of resourcesShortage of resources

WastesWastes and and PollutionPollution

ThusThus;;Public concern for the environment should be increased.Public concern for the environment should be increased.We should begin to see real progress in finding adequate We should begin to see real progress in finding adequate solutions to environmental problems.solutions to environmental problems.

III.III. Environmental EthicsEnvironmental Ethics

Environmental ethicEnvironmental ethic is the discipline that is the discipline that studies the studies the moral relationshipmoral relationship of human to the of human to the environment and its nonhuman contents.environment and its nonhuman contents.

Ethical approach to the environment is a recent approach;

Land ethicLand ethic assumes wewe are responsible to the entire environment;entire environment;

People should be the “LandLand’’s Citizens and Protectors not Lands Citizens and Protectors not Land’’s s ConquersConquers”.

In the pastIn the past,, people were unaware of depletion of recourses and environment degradation “a crisis survivala crisis survival”;;

TodayToday, environmental knowledge is increased rapidly, and we are aware than ever of Environmental ProblemsEnvironmental Problems (local, regional and global)

III.III. Environmental EthicsEnvironmental Ethics

Environmental problems should be tackled based on scientific knowledge;scientific knowledge;

In the modern society, policies and policies and regulationsregulations should be developed to benefit ourselves and the rest of the natural world………….

IV.IV. Environmental CrisisEnvironmental Crisis

Natural Factors Man-made-Factors

Environmental CrisisEnvironmental Crisis ““MANMAN--MADE FACTORSMADE FACTORS””

The "environmental crisisenvironmental crisis" is a combination of three aspects:

Human needs Human needs

Limited resources, and Limited resources, and

Waste & Pollution problemsWaste & Pollution problems

LimitedLimitedResourcesResources

Waste & Waste & PollutionPollution++ ++HumanHuman

NeedsNeeds

How do How do humanhuman actions demolish the natural actions demolish the natural resources resources environmental crises?environmental crises?

DeforestationDeforestation

Heavily mining of natural resourcesHeavily mining of natural resources

FarmingFarming activatesactivates

depletion of aquifers, anddepletion of aquifers, and introducing contaminants into the groundwater introducing contaminants into the groundwater

Groundwater and surface water development Groundwater and surface water development projects projects

damaging the environment (damaging the environment (i.e.i.e. building building

a dama dam will change the stream system) will change the stream system)

Industrial activates Industrial activates

increasing the concentration increasing the concentration

of of greenhouse gases greenhouse gases in the atmosphere in the atmosphere

global global climatic problemsclimatic problems

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ExamplesExamples

NATURAL FACTORSNATURAL FACTORS

External geologic ProcessesExternal geologic Processes

External geologic ProcessesExternal geologic Processes

V.V. Fundamental Concepts of Fundamental Concepts of Environmental GeologyEnvironmental Geology

1.1. Population GrowthPopulation Growth2.2. SustainabilitySustainability3.3. Earth SystemEarth System4.4. Hazardous Earth ProcessesHazardous Earth Processes5.5. Scientific KnowledgeScientific Knowledge

6.6. Limitation of resourcesLimitation of resources7.7. UnifomitarianismUnifomitarianism8.8. Our obligationOur obligation

Population Population Bomb: Bomb:

About to About to Explode?.......Explode?.......

Human Population GrowthHuman Population Growth

Population: Population: At At

Exponential Exponential Growth Rate?Growth Rate?

Human Population GrowthHuman Population Growth

1.1. Human Population GrowthHuman Population Growth1.1. Principal environmental problemPrincipal environmental problem: population growth increases : population growth increases

the impacts on the limited resources.the impacts on the limited resources.

Growth rate (G)Growth rate (G) (%)(%)

Doubling time (D)Doubling time (D):: the time it takes for population to doublethe time it takes for population to double, , generally equal to generally equal to 70 divided by the growth rate70 divided by the growth rate = = 70/G70/G

2.2. Human population through historyHuman population through history

Exponential growthExponential growth: a constant percentage of people are : a constant percentage of people are added to the population each yearadded to the population each year

Human population growthHuman population growth has has coincided with changes in coincided with changes in technology and lifestyles.technology and lifestyles.

3.3. Population growth and the future:Population growth and the future:

EarthEarth as the only suitable human habitat will be damaged..as the only suitable human habitat will be damaged..

As population growth continuously, it may be difficult to As population growth continuously, it may be difficult to supply supply sufficient resourcessufficient resources and a and a highhigh--quality environmentquality environment

NoticeNotice: : ““the rate of change in human population growth is the rate of change in human population growth is decreasing for the first time since the middecreasing for the first time since the mid--19001900’’ss””..

2.2. SustainabilitySustainability ((Management of Earth's ResourcesManagement of Earth's Resources))

Two goals:1.1.Conservation of ResourcesConservation of Resources2.2.Prevention of environmental Prevention of environmental

degradation during resource degradation during resource extraction.extraction.

? ? ?? ? ?Management of Earth's ResourcesManagement of Earth's Resources

Are there sufficient resourcessufficient resources to support the growing global population?

What steps can be taken to preservepreserve the most heavily exploited resources?

How can resources be mined safelysafely and and economicallyeconomically?

Urban MachineINPUTSINPUTS

EnergyEnergy

SoilSoil

WaterWater

MineralsMinerals

OUTPUTSOUTPUTS

WasteWaste

ProductsProducts

PollutionPollution

Urbanization

Population, Industry, Agriculture, Technology

The Key to Sustainable Development is Effective Environmental Management. HOW?????

The Key to Sustainable Development is Effective Environmental ManagementEffective Environmental Management. HOW?????

INPUTS and OUTPUTS Should be Balanced with NO Disturbance for the Natural Equilibrium of Earth Systems.

INPUTS and OUTPUTS Should be Balanced with NONO Disturbance for the Natural Equilibrium of Earth Systems.

3.3. Earth SystemEarth System

Types of SystemsTypes of Systems

Open SystemOpen System

Closed SystemClosed System

Isolated SystemIsolated System

Will be Discussed later Will be Discussed later …………..

4.4. Hazardous Earth ProcessesHazardous Earth Processes

Environmental geologyEnvironmental geology is entitled to is entitled to identify, evaluate and mitigateidentify, evaluate and mitigate the natural the natural hazards in the modern societyhazards in the modern society..

What, How, why?What, How, why?

Identification of Natural HazardsIdentification of Natural Hazards 1. 1. WHAT DO YOU NEEDWHAT DO YOU NEED??

Requirements:

Landform features;Earth materials distribution;Tectonic features;Physical and chemical properties of earth

materials.

Scientific InformationScientific Information

Evaluation of Natural HazardsEvaluation of Natural Hazards 2. 2. HOWHOW??

1. How often do such natural hazards occur?

2. How large an area will be affected?

3. How grave is the risk for people and properties?

1.1. HowHow often do such natural hazards occur?

2.2. HowHow large an area will be affected?

3.3. HowHow grave is the risk for people and properties?

Records

Evaluation of Natural HazardsEvaluation of Natural Hazards 2. 2. How?How?

Determine RisksRisks (RR) of natural hazards: Earthquakes Landslides Flooding Volcanic eruptions Sand movement

Risk analysisR = Pe

$

Mitigation of Natural HazardsMitigation of Natural Hazards 3. 3. Why?Why?

Attempt to mitigatemitigate risks associated with hazards……….

ExamplesEarthquakes implement building codes, -----Landslides

reduce slopes, add drainage, -----

Flooding

building dams, flood monitoring, -----Volcanoes

predict type/ timing of eruptions, -----

Actions to be taken to stop / minimize theadverse impacts…………

5.5. Geosciences & Geosciences & Environmental GeologyEnvironmental Geology

Environmental geologyEnvironmental geology has has been born from the need for been born from the need for interaction of the three main interaction of the three main fields of applied Earth fields of applied Earth sciences:sciences:

Applied geomorphologyApplied geomorphology

Economic geologyEconomic geology and

Engineering geologyEngineering geology

Geomorph-ology

Engineering Geolog y

Economic Geology

EnvironmentalGeology

Other Basic GeosciencesOther Basic Geosciences

Types of scientific informationPlanners used to utilize different types of information to build logical predictive knowledge:

1.Factual knowledge: Provides the basic information encountered the project (maps showing the land surface, bed rock configuration, and distribution, ……………………………).

2.Historical knowledge: provide the keys to analyzing the consequences of the past decisions and helping the future consequences of decisions yet to be made (records of geologic hazardous events, ……………………….)

3.Predictive or forcasting knowledge: is commonly expressed in the form of forecasts and predictions. Predictive statement should contain the basic elements that specify the location, time of occurrence, and the scale of the event.

PredictionPrediction PROVIDE precise specification of the location, time, occurrence, and scale of a future HAZARD.

ForecastForecast GIVES broad statement indicating thE LIKELHOOD OF HAZARD (I.E EQ is much more likely to occur in one area than another.

SCIENTIFIC INFORMATION AND LAND-USE PLANNING

[Case Studies]

Love Canal Toxic Waste Disposal Site is a familiar example to show the failure to make a significant use of scientific information led to serious problems.

It is a symbolic example to show how a land-use decision was made without employing appropriate scientific information.

Trans Alaska Pipeline System (TAPS) is a familiar example to show:

How scientific information was used successfully to avoid situations that might otherwise have been harmful to the pipeline and the surrounding environment.

NameName DescriptionDescriptionGeopotential Maps Maps demonstrating the resource and development potential of land.

Engineering geology Maps Maps, which record, ground conditions, and rock/soil properties useful in the design of engineering works.

Thematic Maps Maps devoted to specific specialist topics.

Element Maps Thematic Maps showing observational or factual data on a single theme. Examples of these include solid geology maps, surficial geology maps, structural geology maps, Geomorphological maps, land-use maps and soil maps.

Derived Maps(Analytical Maps)

Interpretation maps based on one or more element maps, synthesizing several types of information relevant to a single issue.

Potential Maps Thematic Maps which demonstrate potential uses of land, or the potential for processes to occur.

Constraint Maps Thematic Maps which indicate limitations on the use of land (e.g. agricultural land capability maps; in the UK).

Hazard Maps Thematic Maps which show the known extent and types of hazards in an area.

Risk Maps Maps which attempt to quantify the likelihood of a damaging event of a given type and size occurring.

Vulnerability Maps Thematic Maps which assess the vulnerability of a population or environment to a particular hazard.

Resource Maps Thematic Maps indicating the nature, extent and quality of resources, on and under the ground.

Scientific MethodScientific Method

ScienceScience

Geologists work through:Geologists work through:1.1. Facts collectionFacts collection

Observations

Measurements2.2. HypothesisHypothesis3.3. TestingTesting--hypothesishypothesis

Reject;

Modify; or

Accept

4.4. TheoryTheory

Scientific Scientific MethodMethod

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2. ---------------

3. ---------------

4. ---------------

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1. WHY HAS THE PRACTICE OF ENVIRONMENTAL

GEOOGY BECOMES SO IMPORTANT IN THE

MODERN SOCIETY?

Assignment # 1

2. Impacts of Population Growth on the Earth’s Environment.

http://www.cwac.net/population/index.html

Write a short essay in One of the following topics:Write a short essay in One of the following topics:

To what extent the scientific information is important in

the planning phase of environmental works. (Comment

on the Love Canal, and Trans Alaska Pipeline projects).

WORK FOR WORLDWORK FOR WORLD……………………

CARE FOR COMMUNITYCARE FOR COMMUNITY……..

How to Tackle Environmental How to Tackle Environmental Problems?Problems?

Warning SystemWarning Systemandand

Monitoring ProgramMonitoring Program

Principle AspectsPrinciple AspectsControlling andControlling andInfluencing the Influencing the

ProblemProblem

Environmental ImpactEnvironmental ImpactAssessment.Assessment.

Risk AnalysisRisk Analysis

Defining the Defining the Types and MagnitudeTypes and Magnitude

of the Problemof the Problem

SolutionsSolutions

How to tackle environmental problems?How to tackle environmental problems?