Environmental Geology

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Environmental Geology
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Environmental Geology

• Science concerned with the practical application
  of the principles of geology in the solving of
  environmental problems
• The study of the interaction of humans with the
  geologic environment

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The Atmosphere

• The volume of gas that surrounds the Earth
• Consists of five regions which each have
  different properties.

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Troposphere

• 0 10 km above the surface and contains dense
  air.
• Region where all the weather occurs.
• Temperature varies greatly at ground levels.
• Temperature decreases as altitude increases.
• At 10 km above the ground, the temperature drops
  to -57C

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Stratosphere

• 10 50 km above the surface.
• Temperature increases from -57C to 0C
• This is due to the presence of ozone that traps
  ultraviolet radiation and absorbs it.

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Mesosphere

• 50 90 km above the surface.
• Temperature is between -90C and -100C
• Meteors penetrate to this area and usually burn
  up here.

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Thermosphere

• 90 - 600 km above the surface of the Earth.
• It reflects radio waves and often increases the
  range of radio transmissions.
• Contains the Ionosphere which is a layer of
  charged particles

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Exosphere

• Uppermost layer of the atmosphere, 600 km above
  the surface.
• Molecules moving fast enough to attain enough
  velocity to escape to outer space.

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Thermal Energy

• Form of energy between the Earth and the sun
• Energy of motion of particles of the sun
• Often in the form of heat

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Heat

• Thermal energy that is transferred from one body
  to another
• Measured in Joules (J)
• Three mechanisms of Heat Transfer
• Radiation
• Convection
• Conduction

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Radiation

• Heat transfer in which particles emit
  electromagnetic waves
• Waves carry energy through space
• Deposit heat only when waves interact with matter
• AKA Solar radiation (radiant energy from the sun)

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Convection

• Heat transfer in which highly energetic molecules
  move from one place to another
• Heat transfer through fluids (water, air)
• Ex) Heat leaves boiling water as currents of steam

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Conduction

• Heat transfer in which highly energetic molecules
  collide with less energetic molecules, giving
  them some energy
• Heat transfer through matter
• Ex) Spoon in a bowl of hot soup becomes warmer as
  heat is conducted

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Earths Energy Budget
70 of solar radiation is absorbed by
atmosphere 30 is reflected
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Temperature

• Measure of the average thermal energy of the
  particles that make up a substance
• Measured in C by a thermometer
• Thermometer contains a liquid substance inside a
  thin tube that expands when it heats up
• As liquid expands, the level rises
• As liquid cools, it contracts and the level goes
  down