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GLY 2030c Environmental and Engineering Geology. Dec. 26, 2004 - Thailand. GLY 2030c Environmental and Engineering Geology. Seismogram. Link to visualization: http://es.ucsc.edu/~ward/indo.mov. Story of Easter Island. ~1500 yrs ago – Polynesian arrival
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GLY 2030c Environmental and Engineering Geology Dec. 26, 2004 - Thailand
GLY 2030c Environmental and Engineering Geology Seismogram GLY 2030C Link to visualization: http://es.ucsc.edu/~ward/indo.mov
Story of Easter Island ~1500 yrs ago – Polynesian arrival Evolved to a complex society by 1500s Societal collapse by first European arrival – 1700s Rapid depletion of limited resources blamed for collapse Documented in book by Jared Diamond “Collapse: How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed” GLY 2030C
Philosophy and Fundamental Concepts • Course Overview • We’ll learn about Earth’s physical/chemical processes • Required to assess scientific concepts with respect to social/human value judgements • Book’s Organization • Philosophy, physical and fundamental principles • Overview of natural processes (geohazards) • Minerals, energy, and environmental issues • Global change and earth systems (human interactions) GLY 2030C
Philosophy and Fundamental Concepts • Introduction to Environmental Geology • 4.5 X 109 ybp -formation the solar system (Astronomical Evidence) • 3 X 109 ybp -life begins (Fossil evidence) • Many plant and animal groups rise and fall • 2.6 X 106 ybp –hominids evolve • Olduvai Gorge in Kenya and Tanzania Stromatolites from Bolivia GLY 2030C Paranthropus boisei
Geologic Time Scale (clock) Humans have been on the planet for 0.05% of Earth history. Condense Earth history to a year? Humans arrive on Dec. 31st at 8pm Roman Empire to present – last 15 sec before midnight GLY 2030C
Philosophy and Fundamental Concepts • Environmental geology: Applied geology • Uses geologic information to assess: • Natural hazards (floods, quakes, slides, etc.) • Landscape/ environmental impact statement • Earth materials • Hydrologic processes • Geologic processes • Environment: the total set of circumstances surrounding an individual or community • Physical • Atmosphere (air), Hydrosphere (water), Geosphere (landforms) • Social and cultural conditions • Ethics, Economics, Aesthetics GLY 2030C
Philosophy and Fundamental Concepts • How Geologists Work: The Scientific Method • Observation • Hypothesis • Collect data, organize, and analyze • Multiple hypotheses developed to explain the data • Hypothesis testing and interpretation of results • Theory evolves as tests are successful • Law or Theorem GLY 2030C
Philosophy and Fundamental Concepts • Cultural Basis for Environmental Awareness • Origin of our present condition lies in the past • Functional categories of society significant in environmental studies • For solutions - may have to look to the future • Overpopulation, hazardous waste, global warming, resource depletion • Industrial revolution changed human/envt. relationship: • Increased population increased demand on resources and increased toxic waste • Global Environmental Concerns: • Developing nations are pressured to exploit resources
Philosophy and Fundamental Concepts • Environmental Ethics • “A crisis of survival” • (Stuart Udall) • Nash’s pyramid • (increasing evolution of responsibility) Ultimately, environmental stewardship is not about “saving the planet” – it is about preserving our own living space. GLY 2030C