Υ7201 - ENVIRONMENTAL GEOLOGY

INSTRUCTORS

COURSE KEY ELEMENTS

COURSE CONTENT:

A. Lectures

• Philosophical Principles/Fundamental Concepts about the Environment: Environmental ethics - economic and political systems - aesthetic preference and judgment - impact of religion - the earth as a closed system – earth’s limited resources - intensity and frequency of natural processes - natural disasters - land use and water resources planning - importance of geosciences
• Institutional framework - Environmental management / licensing (authorisation): Institutional / Legislative framework - Waste management institutional framework - Water institutional framework - Atmospheric pollution - Natural Environment protection - Environmental licensing of infrastructure projects.
• Disposal – Waste management: Waste management - hazardous chemical waste management - radioactive waste management - ocean disposal.
• Αssessment of natural environment - Land Uses: Land use planning - geoenvironmental mapping - emergency response planning - environmental impact study - zoning - landscape aesthetics.
• Energy and the environment: Lignite - oil and natural gas - non-renewable fuels - nuclear energy - geothermal energy - renewable energy sources - energy and water requirements – hydrogen.
• Water resources management: History of water management - Sustainable development and introduction to water resources management - Water pollution and monitoring - Water resources protection.
• Impact of Disasters on the Environment: Introduction to the theory of Disaster Management: Basic Terminology,  Hazard, Vulnerability, Risk, the Cycle of Disaster Management, Disaster Classification - Manmade disasters and environmental impact: Environmental Impact of human activity, environmental impact of manmade disasters (Technological disasters etc) - Natural disasters and environmental impact: Geological disasters, Hydrometeorological disasters, Biological threats, NaTech - Emergency management and Environmental Impact Assessment.
• Soil pollution: Soil as a natural resource – soil loss – soil contamination by potentially toxic elements – natural and anthropogenic sources of elements
• Water system pollution: Water pollution – point and diffuse sources of pollution – anthropogenic sources of pollution – water pollutants – acid drainage – eutrophication – water salinization - hexavalent chromium.
• Air pollution: Structure and composition of atmosphere – air pollutants and classification – particulate matter – sources of aerosols – SO2 – NOx – Chemistry of rainwater – acid rain - photochemical smog – greenhouse gases.
• Environmental Risk Assessment: Methodology – Risk characterization – Human health risk assessment - Consequence of pollutants on human health.

B. Practical Exercises

• Environmental quality of water systems
• Environmental soil quality
• Air pollution
• Human health risk assessment
• Tracing the origin of open water pollution in the Evrotas river
• Impact distribution in Vrisa Lesvos from the earthquake of 12-6-2017
• Simulation of an industrial accident in Bhopal
• Risk assessment - Environmental rehabilitation of Uncontrolled Waste Disposal Areas
• Zonation of Sanitary Burial Areas
• Energy and Climate Change
• Environmental Permission: Mining Drilling Case

C. Fieldwork

• Identification of geographical, geological, climatic, hydrological and hydrogeological characteristics of the area, identification of land uses, approximation of water-irrigation needs.
• Overview of environmental pressures on the atmosphere, soil, and water element as well as identification of natural and man-made hazards.
• Group work with the aim of collecting rural data through the recording of the flood risk in a riverbed with anthropogenic interventions. Development of dynamic discussion among groups.
• Visit to waste disposal and wastewater treatment sites to determine environmental pressures.
• Evaluation of the knowledge acquired through a questionnaire on the e-class platform.

LEARNING ACTIVITIES - TEACHING METHODS:

PLANNED LEARNING ACTIVITIES:

ASSESSMENT METHODS AND CRITERIA

The assessment process is conducted in Greek (there is the possibility of examination in English for Erasmus students), as follows:

I. LECTURES (50%)

• Written Exam with Short Answer Questions and Multiple Choice Test and/or
• Written Exam with Extended Answer Questions

ΙΙ. PRACTICE EXERCISES

The final grade for the practical exercises is determined at the end of the semester and includes:

• Questionnaires or small essays to evaluate the exercises carried out during the semester, at a rate of 40%
• Questionnairy to evaluate fieldwork activities, at a rate of 10%.

In the case of an unsuccessful result (<5), the students have the possibility to attend the Semester’s period exercises.

• Auxiliary material (questions, exercises, etc.) for the exams is posted on the online e-Class platform               

RECOMMENDED BIBLIOGRAPHY

Suggested Bibliography:

• Lekkas E. (1998) Geology and the Environment. ISBN 960-90329-2-3, 274p. (in Greek).
• Lekkas, E., Andreadakis, E. & Kapourani, E. (2015). Natural and Technological Disasters Impact on the Environment.235p. (in Greek).
• European Environment Agency https://www.eea.europa.eu/en   

¹ V.S.: Visitor Students (e.g. ERASMUS)