The course covers the basic principles of environmental geology and its applications to solve important environmental problems of the planet.
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.