Prerequisite: GY229, GY330
Course status: Option
Credit Rating: 8 credits
Total hours spent: 80 hours [30 hours lectures, 15 hours tutorial, 15 hours assignments, 20 hours independent study]
Course Objective(s)
o To acquire knowledge on natural geologic hazards and their effects to the environment.
o To understand techniques of identifying environmental impacts of natural resources extractive industries.
o To gain skills of how to assess Impacts of climate change on both aquatic and terrestrial systems.
o To impart knowledge on Environmental Impacts Assessment (EIA) for given geological based projects.
o To acquire skills for synthesizing data used in the assessment of environmental geohazards impacts, mitigation and adaptation.
Learning Outcomes
By the end of this course, students should be able to:
o Identify natural geologic hazards and their effects on the environment.
o Explain causes and effects of land degradation and destruction.
o Assess impacts of climate change on both aquatic and terrestrial systems.
o Synthesize data for assessing environmental geo-hazards impacts, mitigation and adaptation measures.
o Determine parameters to be considered in undertaking environmental Impact assessment for a given project.
Course Structure
Natural geohazards; Impacts of mining, oil and gas extraction; Environmental Impact Assessment;
Climate change impacts on the environment; mitigation and adaptation measures.
Course Content
Processes, effects, monitoring, mitigation and adaptation measures against natural geological hazards: earthquakes, volcanoes, floods, drought, mass movements, sink holes, land subsidence, toxic elements and compounds (As, F, Se, CO2). Impacts of mining, waste disposal. Formation and processes of land degradation, conservation and rehabilitation. Human effects on the climate system and possible future trends. Climate change effects, mitigation and adaptation on various water and energy resources. Environmental Impacts Assessments on various geological related projects.
Assessment
Coursework 40%, Final Examination 60%.
Key Textbooks:
1. McConnell, R.L., Abel, D.C. and Abel, D.C., (2013), Environmental geology today. Jones and Bartlett Publishers.
2. Forster, A. (1998), Environmental Geology: Principles and Practice. G. Bell. Blackwell, Oxford
3. Lowe, J.J. Walker, M. (2015), Reconstructing Quaternary Environments, 3rd Ed.
4. Bell F.G. (1998), Environmental Geology: Principles and Practice. Wiley.
5. Keller, E.A., (2015), Introduction to environmental geology. Jones Bartlett Learning.
6. Manahan, S.E., (1993), Fundamentals of Environmental Geochemistry. CRC Press.