1 / 20

HONR 297 Environmental Models

HONR 297 Environmental Models. Chapter 1: Introduction. Objectives. This course has three objectives. Provide an in-depth introduction to several very important environmental issues. Show how mathematical models are used routinely to help analyze these issues.

conan-hooper
Download Presentation

HONR 297 Environmental Models

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. HONR 297Environmental Models Chapter 1: Introduction

  2. Objectives • This course has three objectives. • Provide an in-depth introduction to several very important environmental issues. • Show how mathematical models are used routinely to help analyze these issues. • Interpret these issues (to the extent possible) in the context of our own lives!

  3. Key Idea (Theme) in the Course • Every environmental issue has quantitative aspects. • By trying to make precise quantitative statements about environmental problems, we are led to a more precise and refined understanding of the underlying problems themselves!

  4. Environmental Practices • Here are some examples of practices that until “recently” (1980’s – present) were routinely accepted and widely practiced. • Disposal of garbage and other wastes in landfills. • Use of buried underground storage tanks (often made of steel) for fuel oil and other chemicals. • Allowing untreated sewage to enter lakes, rivers, etc. • Disposal of byproducts from power plants (nuclear, coal, etc.) via tall smoke stacks, cooling towers, etc. • Natural resource consumption – food, water, fuel, etc. • Use of chemicals – industrial, personal, etc. • Are they still practiced? …

  5. Questions! • What are examples of each of the above environmental practices? • Are they still relevant today?

  6. My answers – ones I thought of! • Coke plant demolition – south side of Indianapolis (June 2013) • Pleasant Run Creek – raw sewage runoff – Indianapolis • Pittsburgh sewage in water (July 2013) • I-69 extension • IN coal plants – air near worst in nation (February 2013, March 2014)

  7. My answers – ones I thought of! • Chinese cities air quality (March 2014) • Northwest IN steel mills • Muncie – battery plants, abandoned factories • BSU power plant • BP oil leak – Gulf of Mexico (April 2010) • CA refinery fire (August 2012) • WI oil spill (July 2012) • Quebec Train Derailment (July 2013)

  8. My answers – ones I thought of! • Fish kills in White River • VX nerve gas disposal – Newport IN • Japan – earthquake, tsunami, and resulting Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster (March 2011) • Volcanic eruptions, disruption of air travel • Tornados, resulting devastation and cleanup • Exhaust from cars, trucks, planes, trains, homes, factories, etc. • Erin Brockovich – PG&E California case

  9. Contributing Factors • In the 1950’s – 1970’s, when many or most of the above practices were standard and unchecked, what were some of the contributing factors? • Industrial development • International competitiveness • Living standard increases • Rebuilding (especially after WW II and the Korean war) • Cold war – arms race between US and Soviet Union • Vietnam War • Others? …

  10. Increased Awareness • What caused people to become more concerned with environmental issues? • Major disasters, including: • Amoco Caditz (Oil Spill) (1978) • Exxon Valdez (Oil Spill) (1989) • Love Canal (Chemicals) (1978) Video 1Video 2 • Three Mile Island (Nuclear) (1979) • Bhopal India (Chemicals) (1984) • Chernobyl (Nuclear) (1986) • Rhine River (Chemicals) (1986) • More recent disasters …

  11. What has happened as a Result? • Heightened public awareness and concern • Changes in how individuals and business interact with the environment • Government regulatory agencies have improved their systems of regulations to protect the environment • Businesses have changed their practices significantly, due to • New regulations • Potential liability and cleanup costs • Financial impacts, both direct and indirect, which concern boards and CEO’s • Makes good business sense – people view environmentally friendly companies and products in a more positive light – more recent development

  12. Dealing with Environmental Problems • Today, we are more aware of environmental issues caused by both past and present practice. • However, we still need to find ways to “fix” those problems that exist or prevent future problems from occurring. • This is not an easy task – what do we do with the byproducts of fixing an environmental problem?

  13. Some Examples

  14. Bottom Line • Environmental issues are • Very complex • Hard to solve • Solutions involve tradeoffs • Involve many people • Engineers • Consultants • Scientists • Civic leaders • Citizens • Lawyers • Journalists • Etc. …

  15. Examples of Environmental Issues

  16. Course Focus • In this course we will focus on “everyday” environmental issues that are likely to arise where we live (city, town, nearby urban center, etc.). • In particular, we will look at issues related to ground water, air quality, and hazardous materials management!

  17. Homework • Read Hadlock – Chapter 1

  18. References • News Articles and Wikipedia Web Pages • http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/local/neighborhoods-city/triathletes-concerned-about-pittsburgh-water-conditions-and-health-697372/ • http://www.wibc.com/news/story.aspx?ID=1753848 • http://www.wthr.com/story/21051655/13-investigates-indianas-toxic-air-pollution-air-quality • http://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/28/world/asia/most-chinese-cities-fail-pollution-standard-china-says.html?_r=0 • http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deepwater_Horizon_oil_spill

  19. References • News Articles and Wikipedia Web Pages • http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/business/2013/08/05/chevron-2m-fire/2620303/ • http://articles.latimes.com/2012/jul/29/nation/la-na-nn-enbridge-wisconsin-oil-spill-20120729 • http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2013/07/27/victims-of-quebec-train-derailment-honored-at-mass/2592767/ • http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fukushima_Daiichi_nuclear_disaster • http://www.jsonline.com/news/milwaukee/milwaukee-marks-20-years-since-cryptosporidium-outbreak-099dio5-201783191.html

  20. References • YouTube and Animal Planet Videos • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5RawzI4txpQ • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3iSFgZ-SlaU • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kjobz14i8kM • http://animal.discovery.com/tv-shows/monsters-inside-me/videos/cryptosporidium-outbreak.htm • Charles Hadlock, Mathematical Modeling in the Environment, Chapter 1

More Related