Environmental geology: basic concepts

Projected global population for the year 2050 is > 9 billion

More people Increased demands for: Food ???Shelter Jobs Clothing Health care??? Waste disposal

So what does it have to do with geology? Growing more food/clothing Soil and water issues More shelter Natural hazards Energy/industry needs Mining issues More waste products Waste disposal issues Climate issues

"PULITZER PRIZE" winning photo taken in 1994 during the Sudan famine The picture depicts a famine stricken child crawling towards an United Nations food camp, located a kilometer away. The vulture is waiting for the child to die so that it can eat it.

THEMATIC SLIDES

People and Planet Daylight Map of the World

People and Planet U.N. Population Division report World Urbanization Prospects: 2003 Revision; BP Statistical Review of World Energy June 2005; GEO Year Book 2006; WRI 2005 The developed world is 75% urban and the rate is accelerating in the developing world; By 2030 urban population is expected to rise to five billion or 60% of the world’s population Primary energy consumption increased globally by 4.3% in 2004 As much as 60% of the global population depends on the waters of international fresh water systems - rivers and lakes of which basins are shared by more than two countries There are now over protected areas worldwide; this amounts to 15% of the total territorial surface of the Earth, including all land area and territorial sea area up to the 12 nautical miles limit 35% of mangroves have been lost in the last two decades; 20% of known coral reefs have been destroyed and another 20% degraded in the last several decades

Introduction: A Story of Change Human influences on the planet Population World Energy Consumption Water Pollution Biodiversity Invasive Species Protected Areas Air Pollution in Copsa Mica and the Black Triangle

Our growing population Population Change from

Impact of civil wars on population of Parrot’s Beak, Guinea These images show the impact of Civil Wars in Liberia on neighboring Guinea 1974: Image of the Parrot’s Beak region in Guinea 2002: The light green color is the result of deforestation in the “safe area” where refugees set up camp

Population growth around Lake Victoria Uganda Note: Figures for 2010 and 2015 are estimates.

Lake Victoria vs. African population growth Note: Figures for 2010 and 2015 are estimates.

Population explosion around buffer zone Africa Population growth around a 100 km buffer zone of Lake Victoria Population growth around Lake Victoria, East Africa, is the highest in Africa

World energy consumption pattern World Energy Consumption between World Primary Energy Consumption since 1970, projected to 2025

Oil extraction in Fort McMurray, Canada Vast reserves of low quality oil underlie the Boreal Forest surrounding Fort McMurray By early 2006 the mining operation covered an area roughly 30 km by 20 km

On 14 August 2003, parts of northeastern United States and southeastern Canada experienced widespread power blackouts Power outage in North America

Biodiversity Targets Reverse loss of biodiversity by 2010 (WSSD, 2002) Reverse loss of forest cover by 2015 (UNFF, 2005)

Protected Areas of Kumaon region, India E. Kameng Sonitpur W. Kameng Papum Pare Darrang India North-East India Study Area Study Area: Kumaon Himalaya Habitat evaluation of Sambar and Muntjak in Ranikhet forests in Sonitpur, India

Habitat loss ( ) Habitat loss ( ) Habitat loss ( ) a b c Increasing disturbances results in decreasing habitat, India Because of increasing disturbances, the wildlife habitats in Kumaon region are shrinking

Shrinking habitat in Kumaon, India Moist Deciduous Moist Deciduous (Degraded) Evergreen Semi-Evergreen Evergreen (Degraded) Semi-Evergreen (Degraded) Grassland Non-Forest Sonai-Rupai RF Chardua r RF Nowdua r RF Balipara RF Nameri NP Biswanath RF Beha li RF ARUNACH AL PRADESH ASSA M Evergreen Semi-Evergreen Moist Deciduous Degraded Forest Grassland No. of Families No. of Genera No. of Species S.-W. Index (*10) Habitat types Species attributes

Invasive species attacking Lake Victoria Africa These images show water hyacinth infestation and control of such invasive species 1995: Image shows several water-hyacinth-choked bays (yellow arrows) 2001: A visible reduction of water hyacinth on Lake Victoria

: Impact of mining on river systems Discharge of waste and pollution into River Water pollution due to copper mine, Papua New Guinea

Biodiversity in ecosystems and species in Mount Kenya, Kenya These images show high diversity in ecosystems and species 2000: The entire forest belt of Mount Kenya was gazetted as National Reserve 2002: The image shows significant improvement in the state of conservation of forests

The area is classified as “environmental disaster area” In 1989, the area was exposed as one of the most polluted places Copşa Micâ – Environmental disaster area Romania

1975: The gray areas are surface mines located primarily in the Czech Republic 2000: The image reveals somewhat improved vegetation cover Air-borne pollutants being trapped in Black Triangle, Czech Republic

One Planet Many People: Atlas of Our Changing Environment Thank You! Free Downloads: Purchase: Human influences on the planet

Some human impacts being recorded in rocks Changes in physical sedimentation by increased erosion and deposition Biotic extinctions due to global temperature change, habitat destruction… Changes in oceans due to sea-level rise, increasing acidity of ocean waters