1. Dr.Souad Guernina Winter 2013
EPSC 181
ENVIRONMENTAL GEOLOGY
Dr.Souad Guernina
Winter 2013

2. What is Geology? Geology is the study of earth and it focuses on:
Planet composition, behavior, and history
Geologists study :
- The history of our planet (study the past to predict the future)
-The causes of earthquakes, volcanoes, tsunamis, floods and etc...
-Earth materials such as oil, mineral resources and water
-how to prevent groundwater contamination
-how to stabilize slopes

3. What is Environmental Geology?
Environmental geology looks at the interaction between humans and the geological environment
3 key factors:
A-Geology
B-Environment
C-Human beings

4. Did you know that:
Every year 250 Million people affected by natural disasters?
International community spent 3 billion dollars to help mitigate the impacts of these disasters?
The poorest societies are the most affected?
(poverty, illness, vulnerability)

5. Is climate change responsible?
Natural impacts: sun, volcanic eruptions, earth’s orbit
Human impacts: CO2 increases, ozone depletion, tropical deforestation
Are we really responsible for the major climate changes of recent decades?

6. This lecture 1-Purpose from this course 2-Class outline
3-Course outline

7. PURPOSE FROM THIS COURSE
1-Help you think about our planet and how it works
The Scientific Method
Question: Where does beach sand come from ?
Field/Lab work: Examine beach environment; see that rivers flow from mountains to the beach.
Refine question: Does sand on the beach come from the mountains by way of streams|?
Pose answer: ----hypothesis----The sand comes from the mountains.
Test hypothesis:--Examine mineral content
of sand from the streams,beach and rocks of mountain
Conclusion: Yes No: reject hypothesis(new hypothesis)
Accept hypothesis:---More testing----
Theory

8. 2-Give you an overview on important concepts in geology
Plate Tectonics
The history of the theory of plate tectonics
An overview of how the plates move and what happens when they interact
Magma generation and faulting
Volcanism
What landforms can be attributed to volcanism
Local and global hazards
Mitigating hazards – the study of volcanoes
Volcanoes and climate change
Earthquakes
Where do earthquakes occur and why?
When the earth shakes, what is happening?
Can we predict earthquakes?
Mitigating earthquakes
3-Share ideas with the group and encourage open communication

9. Class Outline Part I Introduce you to basic concepts in geology
-Earth formation and structure
-Minerals and Rocks
-Time in geology
-Plate tectonics and other processes that change the earth’s surface

10. Class Outline Part II
Introduce you to fundamental concepts of Environmental geology
Earth Systems and Cycles
-Carbon cycle
-Energy cycle
-Hydrologic cycle
-Rock cycle

11. Class Outline Part III
Look at the various geological hazards that change the surface of the earth, and pose a direct threat to human survival
Volcanoes
Earthquakes
Tsunami
Landslides
Floods

12. Impact of Geologic Processes on us
Example
Vesuvius, Italy, 1944
Pompeii, AD 79
Volcanic eruption
1-Positive impact
Rich, fertile Soil
Building of our atmosphere
Tourism
Building materials
2-Negative impact
Death
Climate change
Threat to aviation
Contaminated drinking supply

13. Class Outline Part IV Study the impact of human on the Environment
Fossil Fuels
Mineral Resources
Alternative Energy
Global Climate Change

14. Human impact on the Environment (Example)
Our dependence on Earth causes us to change our environment…
Waste: contamination
Construction: landslides
Water Diversion: starvation of seas
Aral Sea, Kazakhstan

15. Why Do We Study Environmental Geology?
1. Managing geological resources, such as fossil fuels, industrial minerals and water
2. The use of the geological environment for waste disposal in order to minimise problems of contamination and pollution.
3. Recognition of natural hazards and mitigation of their human impacts (volavanoes, earthquakes, floods, ect…)

16. -Liaison librarian (Giovanna Badia) -Guest Speaker (climate change) -videos

17. THE COURSE Course website: http://www.eps.mcgill.ca/~courses/c186-243
Assumes very little scientific training
Textbook
Bernard W Pipkin/ Dee D Trent/Richard Hazlett/Paul Bierman - “Geology and the Environment” (5th ed.)
• S. Marshak – “Earth, Portrait of a Planet” (excellent reference on general geology)

18. CONTACT ME Fax: 398-4680 Office: FDA 132 Souad.guernina@mcgill.ca
Office hours: T-Th 12:00 PM to 12:30 PM

19. EVALUATION -Mid-Term Test (February 18; IN CLASS) 40 % -Final Exam 60%
(TBA)
-No classes on March 4 to 8 (study break).