Bronte Wells
Environmental geology is a multidisciplinary field that studies the interaction between humans and the geologic environment, including the biosphere, lithosphere, hydrosphere, and atmosphere. It aims to address environmental problems caused by human activities, such as pollution. Geology plays a crucial role in controlling and mitigating pollution, especially in the case of groundwater pollution. Hydrogeology, a branch of geology, focuses on the distribution and movement of groundwater and helps address groundwater pollution caused by mining, agriculture, and other human activities. Soil science, another branch of geology, addresses soil preservation and arable land concerns, helping to minimize land degradation and optimize agricultural practices. Additionally, environmental geology contributes to the management of industrial and domestic waste disposal, aiming to minimize or eliminate pollution. The identification and regulation of pollutants in offshore regions are also crucial to stabilizing marine ecosystems and mitigating the impacts of global offshore pollution.
Characteristics of how geology controls pollution
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Groundwater pollution | Heat, bacteria, or chemicals |
| Greatest contributors to groundwater pollution | Fertilizers, leaking sewers, polluted streams, mining/mineral wastes |
| Environmental geology approach | Reduce wasteful usage and recycle when possible |
| Environmental geology studies | Soil, fossil fuels, minerals, water, land use |
| Hydrogeology | Distribution and movement of groundwater in the soil and rocks of the Earth's crust |
| Soil surveys | Optimum cropping systems and soil management |
| Marine geology | Influence of global offshore pollution |
| Natural contamination | Arsenic in tube wells in Bangladesh |
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What You'll Learn
Groundwater pollution
To address groundwater pollution, containment methods such as vertical engineered barriers (VEBs) are used to control the flow of contaminated groundwater and prevent it from reaching drinking water sources. Pump and treat methods are also used to extract and treat contaminated groundwater above ground. Superfund response actions at contaminated sites aim to protect human health and the environment by addressing exposure pathways and potential risks.
In addition, the prevention of groundwater pollution is crucial. The Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology (EAWAG) has developed the Groundwater Assessment Platform (GAP) to estimate the geogenic risk of contamination in an area using geological, topographical, and environmental data. This tool helps identify the probability of contamination by various parameters, with arsenic and fluoride being the most widespread.
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Hydrogeology
Groundwater pollution occurs when water becomes impaired by contaminants such as heat, bacteria, or chemicals. The main sources of groundwater pollution are surface sources, including fertilizers, leaking sewers, polluted streams, and mining or mineral waste. These pollutants can infiltrate and contaminate groundwater, especially in areas with high pollution sensitivity, such as coarse-textured soils or karst topography.
Hydrogeologists employ various methods to identify and remediate groundwater pollution. Numerical modelling is a valuable tool for gathering comprehensive information on pollution sources. Remediation technologies can be classified as in-situ or ex-situ, depending on the location of the remediation. In-situ remediation is more cost-effective and has a wider range, but its performance can be influenced by environmental factors and may lead to secondary pollution. On the other hand, ex-situ remediation offers high efficiency, processing capacity, and treatment concentration but incurs higher costs. Combining multiple methods based on specific hydrogeological conditions can yield better identification and remediation outcomes.
Environmental geology, a related field, addresses the impact of human activities on the environment and aims to minimise adverse effects. This includes managing hydrogeological resources such as water, fossil fuels, and minerals, as well as land use planning to reduce the negative impact of human settlement and resource production. Soil science, another related discipline, focuses on soil preservation and arable land management, utilising soil surveys to optimise land usage and minimise degradation.
By understanding the hydrogeological characteristics of an area, effective measures can be implemented to protect groundwater resources. This includes identifying vulnerable areas, implementing proper waste management practices, and ensuring the safe disposal of industrial and domestic waste. Additionally, hydrogeological knowledge is crucial for the selection of suitable sites for mining, waste disposal, and industrial activities to prevent contaminants from entering the environment.
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Waste management
Geology plays a critical role in waste management, which is essential in a world with increasing amounts of waste. The goal of waste management is to dispose of waste without contaminating water, soil, and air. Geoscientists are involved in designing systems to dispose of waste safely in the air, on the surface, or beneath the ground. They also help to locate safe sites for waste disposal and study the impacts of waste on the environment.
The selection of a waste disposal site is a crucial aspect of waste management. Photo geological studies, geophysical investigations, and geological field mapping are essential tools used to select suitable sites. Most construction materials for landfills are of geologic origin, and their suitability must be assessed through geological evaluations.
Hydrogeological conditions within adjoining terrains must be monitored to prevent pollution. Several models and systems are available for the hydrogeological evaluation of waste disposal sites, including the use of geochemistry to monitor radiation in the case of radioactive wastes.
Additionally, geology offers opportunities for waste management through the use of underground injection wells. These wells are used to dispose of wastewaters safely beneath the ground. Furthermore, geology can contribute to waste management by providing construction materials for landfills and other waste disposal facilities.
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Non-renewable resources
The use of fossil fuels also leads to air pollution, which causes approximately 4.5 million deaths worldwide each year, according to Greenpeace and the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA). It results in lung problems, asthma attacks, and exposure to metal particles, with similar consequences as the burning of fossil fuels. Additionally, coal-fired power plants are the largest source of mercury emissions, which accumulate in fish and other organisms, impacting biodiversity and posing risks to human health, especially in embryos and young children.
Furthermore, non-renewable resources contribute to water pollution. Both fossil fuel and nuclear power plants require water for cooling, and when this heated water is released back into the environment, it contains lower levels of dissolved oxygen, stressing native wildlife. Oil spills from transportation accidents also pollute oceans and coastlines, endangering marine life.
The extraction and disposal processes of non-renewable resources further impact the environment. Mining for coal or drilling for oil can be dangerous for workers and lead to soil degradation. Additionally, the disposal of waste generated by these processes can contaminate the environment if not properly managed.
To address these issues, environmental geology aims to reduce wasteful usage and promote recycling. It involves studying the Earth's surface, managing geological resources, and minimising the effects of pollution through waste management and litigation. Soil science, a branch of environmental geology, focuses on soil preservation and arable land to optimise land usage and reduce degradation.
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Offshore pollution
Environmental geology is a multidisciplinary field that deals with the practical application of geology to solve environmental problems caused by humans. It is closely related to engineering geology and environmental geography. Environmental geology is applied to issues such as population growth, mining, diminishing resources, and global land use.
The offshore oil and gas industry has implemented measures to reduce pollution, such as the OSPAR harmonized mandatory control system for offshore chemicals, which aims to reduce the use of hazardous substances. In 2013, the OIC prohibited the discharge of lost circulation material containing plastics. The International Maritime Organization also established double-hull standards for new oil tankers in the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL), which helped reduce oil spills from ships.
Geological factors can control and influence pollution, especially in the case of offshore pollution. For example, the storage of carbon dioxide (CO2) in geological formations, such as depleted oil and gas reservoirs, is an emerging offshore activity. While it can help mitigate climate change by reducing CO2 emissions, there is a risk of CO2 leakage, which could have negative effects on the marine environment. Soil science, a branch of environmental geology, also plays a role in preserving arable land and soil quality, which can help reduce land degradation and optimize agricultural yield.
Overall, the increasing global offshore pollution has led to various geological disasters, including intensified erosion and salinization of coastal soils, frequent geological collapses, landslides, and increasing seismic activities. More research is needed on the influence of global offshore pollution based on marine geology to address this urgent problem effectively.
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Frequently asked questions
Environmental geology is an applied science that aims to solve environmental problems caused by humans. It involves the study of the interaction between humans and the geologic environment, including the biosphere, lithosphere, hydrosphere, and atmosphere.
Geology controls pollution through the application of geological knowledge to address environmental issues. This includes managing geological and hydrogeological resources, such as fossil fuels, minerals, water, and land use. For example, in the case of groundwater pollution, environmental geology helps to monitor and assess the impact of contaminants and determine appropriate countermeasures.
The major types of pollution include air pollution, water pollution, and land pollution. Geology plays a crucial role in understanding and mitigating these types of pollution by studying the distribution and movement of pollutants in the environment.
Coastal areas are particularly vulnerable to the effects of global offshore pollution, which can lead to intensified erosion, salinization of coastal soils, and increased seismic activity. Geology helps to address these issues by studying the long-term geological evolution of offshore pollution and its impacts on marine ecosystems. This knowledge is then used to develop strategies to stabilize marine ecosystems and reduce the frequency of geological disasters in coastal regions.
