GEOL 218: Environmental Geology

Define the word theory in scientific terms and distinguish it from the colloquial use of the word theory, which is closer in meaning in scientific terms to the word hypothesis. Describe how a theory in science is an idea that has been repeatedly tested and verified, has successfully explained many phenomena, and has provided new insights into how nature works that no other explanation has been able to do so as successfully.

In written or oral communications, describe an example of the two-way nature of interactions between humans and earth systems—a specific, quantifiable example of how human activities alter earth systems, and a specific, quantifiable example of how earth systems affect and alter human society.

Describe climate change, in writing and by referring to timelines, on time-scales ranging from recorded human history to the geologic periods, and provide one or more hypotheses as to the causes.

Use or understand and explain the tools and methods used by earth scientists to measure and quantify climate change and other changes in earth systems over a range of time scales.

Explain volcano and earthquake hazards in geologic terms and in relation to plate tectonics. Given a plate tectonic setting in terms of type of plate boundary or distance from plate boundary, identify the types of volcanic and earthquake hazards likely to exist there, down to details of fault types, earthquake magnitudes and frequencies, volcano types, and types of volcanic eruptions and hazards.

Explain the origin of hot spots in oceans (such as Hawaii) and on continents (such as at Yellowstone National Park), the volcanic and seismic hazards associated with hot spot lands, and the resources provided by hot spots, including evolution and species radiation opportunities provided by hot spot environments to the biosphere.

Describe the wide variety of landslides and gravity-driven earth movements in terms of driving forces, triggering effects, and human engineering.

Explain and diagram how rivers, streams, and groundwater flow and how the flows are altered by human effects.

Summarize the types of mineral, rock, and other solid earth resources humans extract from the earth and some of their uses, how they originate in the earth, and the effects of mining and refining mineral, rock, and other solid earth resources on the environment.

Summarize the types of energy resources humans extract from the earth, how they originate in the earth, and the effects of mining and refining mineral, rock, and other solid earth resources on the environment. and the effects of mining and refining on the environment. Identify and discuss the sustainability of specific examples.

Summarize the types of energy resources humans extract from the earth or extract from the earth’s surface, how the energy originates in earth systems and is extracted as energy for human use, and the effects on the environment of extracting and using energy resources from earth systems. Discuss the sustainability of different types of energy resources, including alternatives to those taken from inside the earth.

Explain and draw a diagram of the carbon cycle, define what fossil fuels are, and explain the sustainability and effects of using fossil fuels.

Understand the geologic processes involved and the geologic influences upon soil formation. Describe and compare typical soil profiles and basic soil types. Identify local soil and describe soil erosion and conservation in global settings and in your local areas.

Provide at least a provisional definition of sustainability, identify renewable and nonrenewable resources, and explain how people’s personal choices relate to resource use, resource renewal, and sustainability.

Show awareness of the earth as a set of dynamic, interlocking systems through which material and energy cycle and recycle and upon which life depends; for example, by describing the carbon cycle including its long-term geologic processes and the short-term effects on the carbon cycle arising from human actions.

Listen critically and openly to both sides of environmental debates, with an awareness of the importance of understanding the earth system processes that underlie environmental issues.

Recognize environmental geology topics in the news, and provide explanations of the topics that go deeper into technical detail and earth systems processes than typical news reports.

Explain the basic theory of climate change due to anthropogenic addition of greenhouse gases to the atmosphere and anthropogenic changes to the earth’s surface systems, and describe how the evidence predominantly verifies the theory.