Environmental geology

Description

Cover Environmental Geology Dedication Brief Contents Contents Preface Key Features Acknowledgments Meet the Author PART ONE Fundamentals of Environmental Geology Chapter 1 Humans and the Geologic Environment Introduction What Is Geology? Scientific Inquiry How Science Operates Science and Society Environmental Geology Environmental Problems and Time Scales Geologic Time Environmental Risk and Human Reaction Earth as a System The Earth and Human Population Population Growth Limits to Growth Sustainability Ecological Footprint CASE STUDY 1.1 Collapse of a Society Living Unsustainably Environmentalism Summary Points Key Words Applications Chapter 2 Earth from a Larger Perspective Introduction Our Solar System The Sun The Planets Comets and Asteroids The Moon Origin of the Solar System The Nebular Hypothesis How Reliable Is the Nebular Hypothesis? Other Stars in the Universe Does Life Exist Beyond Earth? Life on Earth Habitable Zones CASE STUDY 2.1 Searching for Life on Mars Possible Intelligent Life Solar System Hazards Electromagnetic Radiation Asteroid and Comet Impacts Summary Points Key Words Applications Chapter 3 Earth Materials Introduction Basic Building Blocks Atoms and Elements Minerals Rocks Rock-Forming Minerals Igneous Rocks Weathering Processes Physical Weathering Chemical Weathering Sedimentary Rocks Detrital Rocks Chemical Rocks Metamorphic Rocks The Rock Cycle Rocks as Indicators of the Past CASE STUDY 3.1 Early Earth History as Told by Our Oldest Rocks Summary Points Key Words Applications Chapter 4 Earth’s Structure and Plate Tectonics Introduction Deformation of Rocks Earth’s Interior Earth’s Structure Earth’s Magnetic Field Earth’s Internal Heat Developing the Theory of Plate Tectonics Continental Drift Mapping the Ocean Floor Magnetic Studies Location of Earthquakes Polar Wandering Plate Tectonics and the Earth System Types of Plate Boundaries Movement of Plates Surface Features and Plate Boundaries Plate Tectonics and People CASE STUDY 4.1 Biogeography and Plate Tectonics Summary Points Key Words Applications PART TWO Hazardous Earth Processes Chapter 5 Earthquakes and Related Hazards Introduction How Earthquakes Occur Earthquake Waves Types of Seismic Waves Measuring Seismic Waves Locating the Epicenter and Focus Measuring the Strength of Earthquakes Intensity Scale Magnitude Scales Magnitude and Ground Shaking Earthquakes and Plate Tectonics Earthquake Magnitude and Frequency Transform Boundaries—San Andreas Fault Convergent Boundaries—Cascadia Subduction Zone Intraplate Earthquakes—North American Plate Earthquake Hazards and Humans Seismic Waves and Human Structures Factors That Affect Ground Shaking Secondary Earthquake Hazards Predicting Earthquakes CASE STUDY 5.1 Vertical Evacuations—An Important Lesson from Japan Reducing Earthquake Risks Seismic Engineering Early Warning Systems Planning and Education Summary Points Key Words Applications Chapter 6 Volcanoes and Related Hazards Introduction Nature of Volcanic Activity Magma and Plate Tectonics Volcanic Eruptions Volcanic Landforms CASE STUDY 6.1 Hawaiian and Yellowstone Hot Spots Volcanic Hazards Lava Flows Explosive Blasts Pyroclastic Flows CASE STUDY 6.2 Explosive Blast of Mount St. Helens Volcanic Ash Mass Wasting on Volcanoes Volcanic Gases Tsunamis Predicting Eruptions and Minimizing the Risks Predictive Tools Early Warning and Evacuation Summary Points Key Words Applications Chapter 7 Mass Wasting and Related Hazards Introduction Slope Stability and Triggering Mechanisms Nature of Slope Material Oversteepened Slopes Water Content Climate and Vegetation Earthquakes and Volcanic Activity Types of Mass Wasting Hazards Falls Slides Slump Flows CASE STUDY 7.1 Recurrent Mass Wasting at La Conchita, California Creep Snow Avalanche CASE STUDY 7.2 Mass Wasting Tragedy at Oso, Washington Submarine Mass Wasting Subsidence Collapse Gradual Subsidence Reducing the Risks of Mass Wasting Recognizing and Avoiding the Hazard Engineering Controls Summary Points Key Words Applications Chapter 8 Streams and Flooding Introduction Role of Streams in the Earth System Stream Discharge Drainage Networks and Basins Stream Erosion, Transport, and Deposition River Valleys and Floodplains Flooding and Flood Hazards Measuring the Severity of Floods Frequency of Floods Natural Factors That Affect Flooding Types of Floods Human Activity and Flooding CASE STUDY 8.1 Levees and the Disastrous 2005 Flood in New Orleans Land-Use Factors That Affect Flooding Ways to Reduce the Impact of Floods Summary Points Key Words Applications Chapter 9 Coastal Hazards Introduction Shoreline Characteristics Coastal Processes Tides Currents Waves Wave Refraction and Longshore Currents Shoreline Evolution Barrier Islands Coastal Hazards and Mitigation Hurricanes and Ocean Storms Tsunamis CASE STUDY 9.1 New Orleans and the Next Hurricane Katrina Rip Currents Shoreline Retreat Summary Points Key Words Applications PART THREE Earth Resources Chapter 10 Soil Resources Introduction Formation of Soils Weathering Development of Soil Horizons Soil Color, Texture, and Structure Soil-Forming Factors Classification of Soils Soil Science Classification Engineering Classification Human Activity and Soils Soil Properties Soil as a Resource Soil Loss and Mitigation CASE STUDY 10.1 Lessons Learned from the 1930s Dust Bowl Salinization of Soils Soils with Hardpans Permafrost Summary Points Key Words Applications Chapter 11 Water Resources Introduction Earth’s Hydrologic Cycle Where Freshwater Is Found Human Use of Freshwater Traditional Sources of Freshwater Surface Water Resources CASE STUDY 11.1 Off-Stream Water Usage and the Aral Sea Disaster Groundwater Resources CASE STUDY 11.2 Groundwater Mining in the Breadbasket of the United States Selecting a Water-Supply Source Alternative Sources of Freshwater Desalination Reclaimed or Recycled Wastewater Aquifer Storage and Recovery Rainwater Harvesting Conservation Summary Points Key Words Applications Chapter 12 Mineral and Rock Resources Introduction Minerals and People Economic Mineral Deposits Resources and Reserves Geology of Mineral Resources Igneous Processes Metamorphic Processes Sedimentary Processes CASE STUDY 12.1 Asbestos: A Miracle Fiber Turned Deadly Mining and Processing of Minerals Mining Techniques Mineral Processing Distribution and Supply of Mineral Resources Meeting Future Demand for Minerals Recycling and Reuse Environmental Impacts and Mitigation Heavy Metals and Acid Drainage Processing of Ores Collapse and Subsidence Abandoned Mine Hazards Summary Points Key Words Applications Chapter 13 Conventional Fossil Fuel Resources Introduction Human Use of Energy Energy Conversions Renewable versus Nonrenewable Energy Historical Energy Usage Coal Environmental Impacts of Mining Coal Environmental Impacts of Using Coal Petroleum Origin of Petroleum Petroleum Deposits Exploration and Production Wells Petroleum Refining Environmental Impacts of Petroleum Current Energy Supply and Demand Economic Development and Energy Demand CASE STUDY 13.1 Controversy Over Hydraulic Fracturing and Tight Oil and Gas Development Types of Energy We Consume Where Fossil Fuels Are Located The Future Energy Crisis Peak Oil Theory Past the Oil Peak Avoiding the Energy Crisis Replacements for Conventional Oil Increasing Supply by Reducing Demand Strategy for Living Past Peak Oil Summary Points Key Words Applications Chapter 14 Alternative Energy Resources Introduction Nonconventional Fossil Fuels Synthetic Fuels from Coal Heavy Oils and Oil Sands Oil Shale Gas Hydrates Carbon-Free and Renewable Fuels Biofuels Hydroelectric Power Nuclear Power CASE STUDY 14.1 Older Technology for the Next Generation of Nuclear Reactors? Solar Power Wind Power Geothermal Power Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion Tidal Power Conservation Post-Petroleum World Transportation Systems Generating Electricity in the Future Summary Points Key Words Applications PART FOUR The Health of Our Environment Chapter 15 Pollution and Waste Disposal Introduction Historical Waste Disposal U.S. Environmental Laws Pollution and Contamination Movement of Pollutants in Water Solid Waste Disposal Municipal and Industrial Solid Waste Solid Hazardous Waste Scrap Tires Liquid Waste Disposal Liquid Hazardous Waste Human Waste Agricultural and Urban Activity Agricultural Chemicals Animal Wastes Sediment Pollution Radioactive Waste Disposal Radiation Hazard The Disposal Problem CASE STUDY 15.1 Long-Term Storage of Nuclear Waste in the United States Air Pollutants and Fallout Acid Rain Mercury Fallout Radon Gas SUMMARY POINTS KEY WORDS APPLICATIONS Chapter 16 Global Climate Change Introduction Earth’s Climate System Solar Energy The Greenhouse Effect Variations in Earth’s Orbit Feedback Mechanisms Earth’s Past and Future Climate Climate Models Ways of Studying Earth’s Past Climate Lessons from the Past Future of Our Climate System Consequences of Global Warming Changing Weather Patterns and Biomes Melting Ice and Permafrost Acidification of Oceans Mitigation of Climate Change Strategy for Reducing Emissions The Future Summary Points Key Words Applications Appendix Glossary Index