ECTS credits ECTS credits: 6
ECTS Hours Rules/Memories Student's work ECTS: 99 Hours of tutorials: 3 Expository Class: 24 Interactive Classroom: 24 Total: 150
Use languages Spanish, Galician
Type: Ordinary Degree Subject RD 1393/2007 - 822/2021
Departments: Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry
Areas: Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry
Center Faculty of Geography and History
Call: First Semester
Teaching: With teaching
Enrolment: Enrollable
The programme of this discipline is specifically designed for undergraduate students studying physical geography, so it focuses on those aspects of environmental geology that do not touch on other subjects of his academic formation.
After completing the course, students should be able to identify geological hazards to which they may be subject to a particular region and to establish spatial patterns that can avert the catastrophic phenomenon really happen, or at least that reduce the consequences of these events.
In addition, the student must know how to identify potential geological resources also exist in an area and also examine some of the consequences that the exploitation of these resources may create on the environment.
Contents
1.- Introduction. Whats is Environmental Geology?. Fundamental concepts. Past, present and perspectives in Environmental Geology. Methods in Environmental Geology. Earth systems and cycles.
2.- Resources: Renewable and nonrenewable resources. Sustainable management of renewable and nonrenewable resources.Resource limitations and population growth.
3.- Mineral resources: metals and nonmetallic minerals. Ore deposits: definition, grade and enrichement factor. Formation of mineral deposits. Investigation methods for mineral deposits. Environmental impacts of mining: mineral extraction and process.
4.- Rock resources: Building Stones and ornamental rocks. Aggregates. Cement. Clays. Regulation of mining activities.
5.- Water as a resource: water cycle and distribution. Water supply: streams, reservoirs, lakes, desalination, groundwater. Consequences of groundwater withdrawal. The hot springs.
6.- Soil as a resource. Soil formation, componentes, properties, tipology and distribution. Soils and human activities.
7.- Energy resources. Fossil fuels (coal and oil). Alternative sources: Hydropower, geothermal power, ocean (wave and tidal energy), solar, wind and nuclear energy. Biomass.
8.- Scientific resources and landscapes: The geological heritage.
9.- Geological hazards and risks. Types of hazards: primary, secondary, tertiary effects. Vulnerability and susceptibility. Assessing hazards and risks. Prtediction and warning.
10.- Volcanoes. Kinds and location of volcanic activity. Hazards related to volcanoes. Problems of predicting volcanic eruptions. Planning volcanic territory.
11.- Earthquakes: Distribution and origin of earthquakes. Seismic waves and earthquake severity. Earthquake-related hazards and their reduction. Earthquake prediction. Tsunamis: physical caracteristics.Mitigation of risk and hazards.
12.- Mass Movements I: Subsidence and collapse. "Creep" and solifluction.
13.- Mass Movements II: Landslides. Classification of landslides. Factors that influence slope stability. Recognizing the hazards. Prevention and mitigation.
14.- Floods. Causes of flooding. Hazards associated with flooding. Factors governing flood severity. Predicting river flooding. Strategies for reducing flood hazard.
15.- Coastal processes. Coastal erosion, sediment deposition and transport. Coastal stabilization strategies.
PRACTICAL CLASSES:
- Preparation and follow-up work on the hazards and geological resources of a particular area to be presented to complete the course.
- Industrial Minerals: identification and uses.
- Industrial Rocks: Identification and uses.
- Itinerary of field to observe aspects of Environmental Geology.
Basic bibliography
- BENNET, M.R. & DOYLE, P. 1997. Environmental Geology. Geology and the human environment. John Wiley & sons , New York. - CRAIG, J.R.; VAUGHAN, D.J. e SKINNER, B.J. 2007. Recursos de la Tierra: Origen, uso e impacto ambiental. Pearson Prentice Hall. Madrid.
- KELLER, E.A. e BLODGETT, R.H. 2007. Riesgos naturales. Pearson Prentice Hall. Madrid.
- PIPKIN, B.; TRENT, D.D. e HAZLETT, R. 2005. Geology and the environment. Thomson. USA.
- TARBUCK, E.J. e LUTGENS, F. K. 2005. Ciencias de la Tierra: una introducción a la geología física. Pearson Prentice Hall. Madrid.
Complementary bibliography
- BOLT, B.A. 1993. Terremotos. Ed. Reverté Serie Reverté Ciencia y Sociedad.
- COATES, D.R. 1981. Environmental Geology. John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
- GARCIA GUINEA, J. e MARTÍNEZ FRIAS, J. 1992. Recursos minerales de España, CSIC, Madrid.
- I.G.M.E. 1987. Riesgos Geológicos. Serie Geología Ambiental.I.G.M.E.Madrid.
- MONTGOMERY, C.W. 1995. Environmental Geology. Wm. C. Brown Publishers. Chicago.
- MURCK, B.W. e SKINNER, B.J. 1999. Geology Today: Understanding our Planet . John Wiley and Sons, New York.
- MURCK, B. W., SKINNER, B. J. e PORTER, S.C. 1995. Environmental Geology, John Wiley & Sons, New York.
- NUHFER et al. 1997. Guía ciudadana de los riesgos geológicos. I.C.O.G. Madrid.
- PLUMMER, C.C. e McGEARY, D. 1985. Physical Geology. Wm. C. Brown. Dubuque, Iowa.
- WATSON, J. 1983. Geology and Man: An introduction to applied earth science. George Allen & Unwin Ltd.
Practical classes:
BLATT, H. 1994. Laboratory exercises in Environmental Geology. Wm. C. Brown Pub. Dubuque, Iowa.
ZUMBERGE, J.H. and RUTFORD, R.H. 1988. Laboratory manual . Physical Geology. Wm. C. Brown Pub. Dubuque, Iowa.
Mapas geológicos de escalas 1:50.000 y 1:200.000 del I.T.G.E.
Mapas de rocas industriales de escala 1:200.000 del I.T.G.E.
Mapas geotécnicos de escala 1.200.000 del I.T.G.E.
Competences:
Those specified in Degree memory.
-Theory: to be developed along the term assigned, with an average of two hours per lesson, unless the subject 1, whose explanation will last for 3 or 4 sessions. Additional tools will be used media and seek examples of Galician environment related subjects for study, encouraging participation and discussion by the students.
-Practical classes. The practical work seeks an application of theoretical knowledge acquired by students throughout the course.
Exam, which represent 50% score of the final note.
The marks obtained in the practices account for 50% of the final, to determine this rating is taken into account:
- Attendance to practical classes and at field trips (10%).
- Practical work to be submitted to complete the course (40%).
In the 2nd Opportunity, you can attend only with the failed part (Examination or Practical Work).
Contact hours:
- Theory: 32 h
- Practical: 16 h
- Tutorial: 3h
- Assessment: 2 h
Non-contact hours of study (60h) and work preparation (40 h)
Total: 153 h
- Attendance and active participation in the theoretical and practical
- Consultation of recommended bibliography
- To use tutorials to solve doubts
Teresa Maria Taboada Rodriguez
Coordinador/a- Department
- Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry
- Area
- Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry
- Phone
- 881813289
- teresa.taboada [at] usc.es
- Category
- Professor: Temporary PhD professor
| Monday | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 15:00-17:00 | Grupo /CLE_01 | Galician | Classroom 14 |
| Tuesday | |||
| 17:00-19:00 | Grupo /CLE_01 | Galician | Classroom 14 |
| Wednesday | |||
| 17:00-19:00 | Grupo /CLE_01 | Galician | Classroom 14 |
| 01.23.2025 18:30-21:00 | Grupo /CLE_01 | Classroom 08 |
| 06.26.2025 18:00-20:30 | Grupo /CLE_01 | Classroom 09 |