Environmental Geology : An Earth System Science Approach -text Only - 98 edition

I. FUNDAMENTAL CONCEPTS: HOW HUMANS VIEW AND STUDY THE EARTH

1. Introduction to Environmental Geosciences

Example: Introductory Riddle Regarding Population Growth
Earth's Changing Environment and Humans
Critical Issues In Environmental Geosciences
Science as a Way of Knowing
The History of Science
Limits to Science
An Emerging Environmental World View

2. Dynamic Earth Systems

An Ongoing Experiment: The Eruption of Mt. Pinatubo and Global Cooling Earth Systems
Links and Cycles Among Earth Systems
Cycles
Energy
Earth Dynamics

3. Time and Change: Earth and Human History

Experiment: Determining When Something Began to Happen from its Decay
Temporal Aspects of Earth Systems
Geologic Time : A Temporal Perspective of the Earth
The Absolute Geologic Time Scale

II. SOLID EARTH SYSTEMS

4. The Crustal Rock System

Experiment: An Ancient Experiment with Melted Sand
The Geosphere and Humans
Processes
Resources
Hazards and Wastes
Environmental Management
Environmental and Global Change

5. Soil and Weathering Systems

Experiment: Unvegetated Soils and Soil Erosion
Soil and Humans
Processes
Resources
Hazards and Wastes
Environmental Management
Environmental and Global Change

III. FLUID SYSTEMS

6. Surface Water Systems

Example: Finding Ancient Rivers in the Desert with Satellites
Surface Water and Humans
Processes
Resources
Hazards and Wastes
Environmental Management
Environmental and Global Change

7. Ground Water Systems

Example: Getting Water out of Sand and Gravel
Ground Water and Humans
Processes
Resources
Hazards and Wastes
Environmental Management
Environmental and Global Change

8. Atmospheric Systems

Example: Changing Climates by Altering Gases in the Atmosphere
The Atmosphere and Humans
Processes
Resources
Hazards
Environmental and Waste Management
Environmental and Global Change

9. Oceans and Coastal Water Systems

Example: Salinity, Density, and Ocean Currents
Oceans and Humans
Processes
Resources
Hazards and Wastes
Environmental Management
Environmental and Global Change

IV. ENERGY SYSTEMS AND CHANGING EARTH SYSTEMS

10. Earth's Energy Systems

Example: Using Solar Energy to do Mechanical Work
Energy and Humans
The Energy Cascade
Energy as a Human Resource
Environmental Impacts of Energy Use
Energy Policy and the Environment

11. Causes and Indicators of Global Environmental Change

Example: California Droughts
What is Global Environmental Change?
Origin of Earth's Climate: Insights from Other Planets
Faint Young Sun Paradox
Causes of Climate Change
Indicators of Past Climatic and Environmental Change

12. History of Global Environmental Change

Example: Dessication of the Mediterranean Sea
Introduction
History of Global Change
Human Evolution and Environmental Change
Earth at the Last Glacial Maximum
Medieval Warm Period and the Little Ice Age
Humans as Agents of Environmental Change