Environmental geology: basic concepts

1. Environmental geology: basic concepts

2. http://www.esa.int/esaLP/SEM84CVHESE_index_3.html

3. Projected global population for the year 2050 is > 9 billion http://www.populationmedia.org/cartooncontest/2004/index.html

4. Increased demands for: Food ??? Shelter More people Waste disposal Jobs Clothing ??? Health care http://www.breathingearth.net/

5. http://www.esa.int/esaLP/SEM84CVHESE_index_3.html

6. 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 Climate issues More waste products Waste disposal issues

12. "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.  http://www.huaren.com/UnitedNations/photo-1.htm

13. http://www.noaanews.noaa.gov/stories2007/images/katrina-biloxi-miss-trailers-newsprint-2005.jpghttp://www.noaanews.noaa.gov/stories2007/images/katrina-biloxi-miss-trailers-newsprint-2005.jpg

14. THEMATIC SLIDES

15. People and Planet Daylight Map of the World

16. People and Planet • 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 117 000 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 U.N.Population Division report World Urbanization Prospects: 2003 Revision;BP Statistical Review of World Energy June 2005; GEO Year Book 2006; WRI 2005

17. 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

18. Our growing population Population Change from 1900-2000

19. 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

20. Population growth around Lake VictoriaUganda Note: Figures for 2010 and 2015 are estimates.

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

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

23. World energy consumption pattern World Energy Consumption between 1800 - 1990 World Primary Energy Consumption since 1970, projected to 2025

24. 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

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

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

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

28. Increasing disturbances results in decreasing habitat, India a Habitat loss (1999-2002) b Habitat loss (1994-1999) Habitat loss (1994-2002) c Because of increasing disturbances, the wildlife habitats in Kumaon region are shrinking

29. 700 PRADESH No. of Families ARUNACHAL No. of Genera 600 No. of Species Balipara RF S.-W. Index (*10) Biswanath RF Behali RF Nowduar RF Nameri NP 500 Sonai-Rupai RF 400 Charduar RF ASSAM Species attributes 300 Evergreen Grassland Evergreen (Degraded) Semi-Evergreen Semi-Evergreen (Degraded) Non-Forest 200 Moist Deciduous Moist Deciduous (Degraded) 100 0 Grassland Evergreen Moist Deciduous Semi-Evergreen Degraded Forest Habitat types Shrinking habitat in Kumaon, India

30. Invasive species attacking Lake VictoriaAfrica 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

31. Water pollution due to copper mine, Papua New Guinea Discharge of waste and pollution into River 1990-2004: Impact of mining on river systems

32. 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

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

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

35. Human influences on the planet One Planet Many People: Atlas of Our Changing Environment Thank You! Free Downloads: www.na.unep.net Purchase: www.Earthprint.com

36. 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