Environmental Geology – E&PS 333
Spring 2008
Dr. Gary Smith
gsmith@unm.edu
Monday-Wednesday-Friday,
9:00-9:50 am
Prerequisite:
E&PS 101 and 105L, or Env Sc 101 and 102L; Math
121
Text:
There is no textbook; reading assignments will be made from a variety of
sources with copies available on the WebCT site for the course.
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Burial of low-level radioactive
waste at (photo by Gary Smith) |
Destruction by 5-m deep mudflows
from Pinatubo volcano, (photo by NOAA) |
Copper mine, Silver City, New
Mexico (photo by Gary Smith) |
Requirements Satisfied:
E&PS 333 satisfies:
Upper-division elective requirements for the minor,
and B.A. and B.S. in E&PS
Counts toward completion of requirements in the Geoscience OR Surface Processes groups for the B.S. and
minor in Env Sc
Can be applied to satisfying requirements for the
secondary-education earth science program (
Counts toward the University Core Curriculum in
physical and natural sciences
E&PS 333 also satisfies requirements for upper-division courses at
the college level (for example: College of Arts and Sciences students must
complete 42 hours of 300- and 400-level courses for graduation). E&PS 333
is available for graduate credit for non-E&PS students; graduate students
will be required to complete additional work to obtain graduate credit.
Course Objectives:
To learn how geological processes affect human interaction with the
natural world, and how geological information is
incorporated in risk analysis and decision making. Considerable emphasis is
placed on how to "do science" - objective application of scientific
method to understand and solve societally relevant
geological problems. Scroll down to read
student learning outcomes for the course.
Course Format:
Class sessions include short lectures, discussion and problem solving
with an emphasis on application of geological knowledge and concepts to problems
that relate to humans interaction with their environment. Case studies form a
large part of the course. Problem-solving assignments (completed individually
or in groups; in class, as homework, and online in WebCT) comprise a large part
of students’ grades. Likely discussion topics include:
Geology
as applied science - What is science? What is the
difference between basic and applied science? How is science done in the
political/economic arena? How does geoscience relate
to decision making and evaluation of environmental risk?
Water resources
- How are surface and ground water resources allocated to users? What
geological factors determine the quantity and quality of water? How is water
quality put at risk by human activities? How does groundwater move and how can
contaminant transport be predicted?
Waste disposal
- What is hazardous waste (including radioactive waste)? What geological
factors determine the extent to which waste can be isolated in the environment?
Geological Hazards
- How are the risks and impacts of hazards such as earthquakes, flood,
volcanic eruptions, landslides, and coastal erosion recognized and avoided?
Energy and Mineral
Resources - What geological factors determine the formation and location
of economically valuable resources? What risks to the environment are
associated with the extraction of these resources.
Environmental
Geology Issues in New Mexico - Water supply in the Rio Grande Valley,
Superfund site in downtown Albuquerque, arsenic in ground water, isolation of
radioactive waste at WIPP, contaminant transport at Los Alamos, etc.
Student Learning Outcomes
General outcomes:
·
Distinguish
a testable scientific hypothesis or data-supported interpretation from a
politically advocated viewpoint.
·
Use data
to compose scientific interpretations/conclusions.
·
Explain
the scientific aspects of a problem to nonscientists in a fashion that enhances
understanding and decision-making.
Topical outcomes:
·
Obtain/compile,
illustrate, and interpret relevant data to determine direction and rate of
ground-water flow, and transport of ground-water contaminants.
·
Explain
and predict the effects of ground-water withdrawal on water levels and on
ground-water flow.
·
Distinguish
between natural and anthropogenic controls on stream discharge and explain
interactions between surface water and ground water.
·
Explain
the origin and characteristics of nuclear-waste types and scientific issues
related to disposal and remediation of nuclear waste.
·
Use
geologic information to determine spatially varying risk of damage and
fatalities due to earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, river and coastal flooding,
and coastal erosion.
·
Use basic
probability to assess geologic-hazard risk.
·
Explain
some of the geologic processes that determine the origin, economic value, and
environmentally sound extraction of earth resources.
·
Explain
the geologic background behind some headline environmental geology issues
affecting New Mexicans – e.g.,
Skill outcomes:
·
Organize
knowledge to support the writing of concise, comprehendible, and scientifically
defendable interpretations.
·
Utilize
Excel spreadsheets for data entry, algebraic calculations, and data graphics
(optional).
