Exploration of the intricate relationship between human activities and Earth's ecosystems. Uncover the far-reaching effects of consumption and pollution on essential resources, with a targeted focus on pivotal environmental and geological challenges crucial for Earth's sustainability. This includes exploring various sustainability practices, geohealth dynamics, environmental impact assessment, and environmental economics.
Athena Title
Environ Geoscience and Sustain
Equivalent Courses
Not open to students with credit in GEOL 1120E
Semester Course Offered
Offered fall and spring
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Student Learning Outcomes
Students will be able to organize the natural and anthropogenic processes affecting the Earth and its resources.
Students will be able to interpret these physical, chemical and biological processes at larger or smaller spatial and temporal scales based on observations at any particular scale.
Students will be able to interpret responses to system perturbation that are natural and/or anthropogenic.
Students will be able to assess human impacts on natural systems and water, soil (food) and energy resources.
Students will be able utilize environmental and mitigation case studies and web-integrated exercise to improve their understanding of geoscience concepts.
Students will be able to evaluate environmental practices critical to a sustainable future.
Topical Outline
Overview, Environmental Problems
Human Population Growth
Biogeochemical Cycles
Dynamic Earth and Natural Hazards
Workings of planet earth today
Planets
Earth structure
Plate tectonics
Rocks and rock cycle
Climate and weather
Rotation, orbits, and seasons
Origin and physical development of the earth
Origin of solar system and earth
Origin of oceans and atmosphere
Natural hazards
Earthquakes and volcanoes
Land instability
Weather hazards
Fires
Coastal hazards
Resource Use and Management
Kinds of resources
Problems with past resource management
Conservation, restoration, and preservation
Water Resources Issues
Hydrologic cycle, hydrogeology
Groundwater resources and natural groundwater quality
Groundwater quality and contamination
Coastal pollution
Overfishing
Coastal erosion
Social solution to water scarcity
Energy and Environmental Issues
Overview of current global energy situation
Energy and fossil fuels: How much do we use?
Nuclear and alternative energy: Can they replace fossil fuels?
Mineral Resources
Types of mineral resources
Mineral deposits, ores, and reserves
Environmental degradation due to exploitation
Dealing with mineral scarcity
Biological Resources
Biodiversity and biodiversity loss
Stopping extinction
Land Resources and Degradation
Drought, desiccation, and desertification
Soil erosion, wind erosion, salinization
Human dimension of global land degradation
Global Climate Change and the Ocean
Earth's carbon balance
Earth's radiation balance: Greenhouse gases, aerosols, clouds
The role of the ocean: Abrupt climate change
Global warming: The future of earth's climate
Air Pollution and Ozone Depletion
Structure and composition of the atmosphere
Urban and regional air pollution and acid rain
Stratospheric ozone depletion
Air pollution in Georgia
