Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Environmental Management I Study Guide
Environmental Management I
(EMG10YT)
Study Guide
2009
Rudolph Robbertze
Department of Environmental, Water and Earth Sciences
Faculty of Sciences
TUT
Tel 012 382 6320
Table of contents
Page
1. Introduction 3
2. Topics covered 4
3. Study material 5
4. Schedule 8
5. Assessments 9
6. Predicate marks 9
7. Lecturer information 10
1. Introduction
Environmental management I in conjunction with the other subjects taken during the first year provide the foundation on which any further subjects are built. It is therefore essential that you understand the subject matter at this stage.
Ecology and geology were covered in subjects like environmental resources and geology 1 this semester. Environmental management I tries to fill the gaps left by those subjects.
The topics covered are central in environmental sciences and it is not difficult to argue that EMG10YT is in fact THE most important subject you will take this year. That said, Environmental Management I – Applied is not difficult but you will have to take the time to go through the material diligently. Distinctions are not uncommon in this subject and it is up to you what you get back from the
2. Topics covered
2. Non-renewable energy
3. Renewable energy and energy efficiency
4. Water resources
5. Water pollution
6. Air pollution
7. Climate change and ozone depletion
8. Solid and hazardous waste
It is important that you actually do the 'missing' chapters during your first year of study. If you do not cover the other chapters in subjects like environmental resources I you will have to read through them on your own.
9. Study material
Textbook
The following textbook is essential for this subject:
Living in the environment, 13th to 16th edition, G.Tyler Miller and Scott E. Spoolman, ISBN-13: 978-0-495-55671-8, ISBN-10: 0-495-55671-8
The above picture is of the 16th edition of the textbook. Other editions have other covers. Try to find the 16th edition, but if you already have an earlier edition, use that since most of the information has remained the same.
Web
A number of web bookmarks have been included on the dvd.
Only a few of those web links have been included here to provide you with a starting point for searching the web. Take some time to gain additional knowledge on the topics covered. Every minute spent now will save you five in the future since this is what you will be doing for your career as environmental scientist.
Solar aid
Earth 4 energy
(http://www.earth4energy.com/renewableenergy.htm)
Greenpeace
World resource institute
World wildlife fund
Scientific American
(http://www.scientificamerican.com)
Nature
Dvd
You will be given a dvd containing various different files in different file formats. Have a look at the file formats heading for information on how to open the files.
File formats on the dvd
Pdf documents contain documents with the file extention .pdf
You can open these documents with Adobe Acrobat. I have included the installation files for Adobe Acrobat 8 on the dvd.
Powerpoint presentation contain Powerpoint slideshows and can be opened with Microsoft Powerpoint. The following versions of Powerpoint will open the files: Powerpoint in Office XP, Powerpoint in Office 2003 and Powerpoint in Office 2007.
The folder web pages contain saved websites in html format. You can view them with any web browser including Internet explorer, Netscape, Firefox and Safari.
Printed Notes
You will be given printed notes in some of the classes. At the moment it is not clear for which chapters they will be. Not all of the printed notes will be on the dvd since they were not ready at the moment of creating the dvd.
Schedule
Date | Topic |
30/06/2009 | Non-renewable energy |
6/07/2009 | Renewable energy and energy efficiency (Solar) |
13/07/2009 | Renewable energy and energy efficiency (hydroelectricity, geothermal, biomass and biofuels, wind energy) |
20/08/2009 | Documentaries (Rivers and life and/or Planet mechanics) Ties into water pollution and renewable energy respectively. |
27/08/2009 | Semester test 1 (Topics covered thus far) |
03/09/2009 | Water pollution |
10/09/2009 | Air pollution |
17/09/2009 | Semester test 2 (Topics covered since last test) |
24/09/2009 | TUT Holiday |
1/10/2009 | Climate change (An inconvenient truth and 6 degrees) |
8/10/2009 | Climate change and ozone depletion (Theory) |
15/10/2009 | Solid and hazardous waste |
22/10/2009 | Semester test 3 (Topics covered since last test) |
28/10/2009 | Predicate Day |
5/11/2009 | In examination time |
12/11/2009 | In examination time |
Please note although the year planning is a guide that we will try hard to follow, some changes may still occur. You will be diligently informed of them if they occur.
5. Assessments
You will be given three semester tests to write during the semester. I have opted to do this to make sure you only have a manageable amount of work to study per test. You will most likely not be given any assignments during this semester. Please read through the chapters long in advance of writing the test to ensure that you understand the work and not only memorize it point for point.
Semester Test 1
Date: 27th of August 2009
Topics:
Non-renewable energy
Energy efficiency
Renewable energy
Semester Test 2
Date: 17th of September 2009
Topics:
Water pollution
Air pollution
Semester Test 3
Date: 22nd of October 2009
Topics:
Climate change and ozone depletion
Solid and hazardous waste
6. Predicate marks, exam requirements etc.
The predicate will be calculated as follows:
Predicate = 33% for semester test 1 + 33% for semester test 2 +
33% for semester test 3
A 40% predicate will be required to gain entrance into the main exam. You will then require a 50% mark to pass the exam. If you get between 40% and 50% you will be allowed to write a supplementary exam.
Final mark = 50% for predicate + 50% for exam.
Your final mark must be above 50% to pass the subject.
7. Lecturer information
Lecturer: Rudolph PJ Robbertze
Email: RobbertzeRPJ@tut.ac.za
Tel: 012 382 6320
Cel: 082 860 4573
Office: 4-218 or 3-131
Hours: Tuesdays to Wednesdays from 08:30 to 16:00
Environmental Geology II Dvds
Environmental Geology II
Notice
I have created a large number of dvds with the documentaries we have watched and will in the future watch in class. These disks can be played on any dvd player and therefore differ from the ones you were given that can only be played back on a computer.
You are borrow those disks for up to two days at a time, but please take good care of them to avoid scratching as it takes a tremendous amount of time to produce them. Covers are available to place them into for safekeeping.
The disks are available in 4-218 during the day.
Rudolph
Thursday, August 13, 2009
Study guide for EGE201T
Environmental Geology
(EGE201T)
Study guide
Department of Environmental, Water and Earth Sciences
Faculty of Science
Tshwane University of Technology
(TUT)
Table of Contents
Page
1. Introduction 3
2. Topics to be covered 4
3. Study material 8
4. Schedule 20
5. Assessments and Predicate marks 25
6. Lecturer information 26
7. Other information 28
Introduction
Environmental Geology is the study of natural disasters caused by the interaction of man with earth's systems.
Wikipedia give the definition as
Environmental geology, like hydrogeology, is a multidisciplinary field of applied science and is closely related to engineering geology and somewhat related to environmental geography. They all involve the study of the interaction of humans with the geologic environment including the biosphere, the lithosphere, the hydrosphere, and to some extent the atmosphere. It includes:
* managing geological and hydrogeological resources such as fossil fuels, minerals, water (surface and ground water), and land use.
* defining and mitigating exposure of natural hazards on humans
* managing industrial and domestic waste disposal and minimizing or eliminating effects of pollution, and
* performing associated activities, often involving litigation.
(Wikipedia, 2009, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Environmental_geology)
Topics to be covered
The following topics will be covered during the semester
Earthquakes
We will have a look at why earthquakes happen, where they occur and what damage is caused by them if they occur.
Landslides
Landslides are caused by unstable soil and rocks flowing downhill. The damage caused by them can wipe out small towns and kill hundreds of people.
Tsunamis
Tsunamis are massive waves caused by undersea earthquakes or movement of tectonic plates. You will learn about the destructive power of water.
Hurricanes
Hurricanes form over tropical waters with winds of up to 300km/h which can clear neighborhoods in the wake of their destruction.
Tornados
Tornadoes form underneath storm clouds and rip apart anything in their path.
Floods
Floods occur when precipitation and the landforms cause water levels to rise very rapidly.
Volcanoes
Volcanoes spew lava, gas and ash. Their destructive power has destroyed cities in the past and can do so again.
Meteorite or Asteroid Impacts
Probably the most destructive natural hazard of all. Meteor impacts have the potential to wipe out human life on earth.
Study Material
Information on the Dvd
You will be provided with a dvd containing some of the material you will require to prepare for the tests and the exam. The dvd contains the following:
Opensource programs – I have included some free opensource programs for opening the files on the disk, they include Firefox 3.5 web browser, Openoffice 3.1 and the VLC video player.
Pdf document files – the pdf documents contain information on all of the topics that will be covered during the semester. Only a few of those have to be studied for the exam. Others have been added purely for advancement of knowledge on the topics presented.
Mp4 video files – a number of documentaries have been encoded into the mp4 file format. You need a special codec or player to play back the files and those have been provided on the dvd.
Ppt (Powerpoint) Presentations – as far as possible all presentations used in class will be added to the dvd.
Doc (Word) Documents – notes have been included as word documents. It is a good idea to print these out as you will need to study them for test and exam purposes.
HTML Documents – a number of web pages have been saved to the disk. Use these as a point of departure to find other pages and sites on the internet containing additional information on the topics covered.
Information on how to open the files are also located in text files on the dvd if you do not have your study guide with you.
Books
The prescribed textbooks are
Earth: Portrait of a Planet, Stephen Marshak, 2005, New York, N.Y.: W.W. Norton, ISBN 0-393-9250-21
Living in the Environment, G. Tyler Miller, Jr and Scott E. Spoolman, Sixteenth Edition, 2007, 2009, Brooks/Cole Publishers, International Edition, ISBN-13: 978-0-495-55671-8 ISBN-10: 0-495-66671-8
These books for the very foundation of your knowledge in environmental sciences and geology and it is therefore highly recommended that you purchase them and read through all of the chapters during the year. If you cannot buy the books at the moment, take note that copies of them are available in the library.
Other textbooks are available in the library.
Notes
In addition to other materials, you will be given printed notes before the topics will be dealt with. These printed notes are essential for exam preparation as they form the core of knowledge you will need to pass.
Notes are often also available on the internet and you can go there to reprint them if you loose them.
Documentary Videos
You will be shown a number of documentaries in class. It is therefore for you own benefit that you attend all of the theory classes.
Some of the documentaries you will be watching include the following:
Six Degrees
Volcanoes 2.
Amazing Earth 1.
Amazing Earth 2.
Built for Destruction - Deserts.
Built for Destruction - Volcanoes 2.
Built for Destruction - Volcanoes.
Burma Cyclone.
Earth - Power of a Planet.
Earth Investigated - Colliding Continents
Earth Investigated - Landslides.
Earth Investigates - Hurricane 1
Earth Investigates - Hurricane 2
Earthquake
Formation of the Solar System
Glaciers
History Channel Volcanoes.
Hubble
Hurricane 1
Hurricane 2
Journey to the Edge of the Universe.
Megavolcano 1.
Naked Science - Volcanic Eruptions.
Naked Science - Volcanoes 2
Pacific Ring of Fire
Space Weather
The Core of the Earth
The Ultimate Guide to Volcanoes pt 2
The Ultimate Guide to Volcanoes
Tsunamis
Violent Planet 1
Violent Planet 2
Volcanic Eruption
Volcano Slayer
Volcanoes 1
The videos will be encoded into a smaller format and will be included on the dvd you will be given.
Websites on the internet
A number of sites on the world wide web contain information on the topics covered in environmental geology II.
Here are some recommended sites you can visit. Please note that the sites were selected out of thousands of other sites containing topical information. Great effort has been undertaken to list them here so please take the effort to visit them – it is for your own benefit.
Wikipedia
For volcanoes
Volcano Information, Photos and Stories
Thinkquest Volcanoes Online (http://library.thinkquest.org/17457/english.html)
Enchanted learning (http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/volcano/)
How volcanoes work
(http://www.geology.sdsu.edu/how_volcanoes_work/)
VolcanoDB
Volcano Live
USGS Volcanoes
(http://pubs.usgs.gov/gip/volc/)
Yahoo directory – Volcanoes
(http://dir.yahoo.com/science/earth_sciences/geology_and_geophysics/volcanology/volcanoes/)
Windows to the universe – Volcanoes
(http://www.windows.ucar.edu/tour/link=/earth/interior/volcanos_general.html)
National Geographic
How Stuff Works
(http://science.howstuffworks.com/volcano.htm)
Volcano Safaris
(http://www.volcanoessafaris.com/)
Volcanic Violence
(http://whyfiles.org/031volcano/)
Volcano presentations
(http://science.pppst.com/volcanoes.html)
USGS – Natural Hazards – Volcanoes
(http://www.usgs.gov/hazards/volcanoes/)
Cascades Volcano Observatory
Google directory – Volcanoes
(http://www.google.com/Top/Science/Earth_Sciences/Geology/Volcanoes/)
Thinkquest
(http://library.thinkquest.org/17457/volcanoes/)
Google books – Volcanoes
Academic info
(http://www.academicinfo.net/rocksvol.html)
NASA Mars Program
(http://marsprogram.jpl.nasa.gov/gallery/volcanoes/)
National Geographic Kids
(http://magma.nationalgeographic.com/ngexplorer/0405/quickflicks/)
Weatherwiz Kids
(http://www.weatherwizkids.com/volcano1.htm)
Solarviews
(http://www.solarviews.com/eng/tervolc2.htm)
Sciencedaily
(http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/08/070829143713.htm)
Geological Survey of Canada
(http://gsc.nrcan.gc.ca/volcanoes/index_e.php)
Volcano World
(http://volcano.oregonstate.edu/)
Global Volcanism Program
(http://www.volcano.si.edu/reports/usgs/)
Volcanoes of Canada
(http://gsc.nrcan.gc.ca/volcanoes/index_e.php)
The Nature of Volcanoes
(http://www.solarviews.com/eng/tervolc2.htm)
University of Cambridge – Department of Earth Sciences
(http://www.esc.cam.ac.uk/ivhhn/index.html/)
Geology.com
(http://geology.com/nasa/monitoring-volcanoes.shtml)
Nasa Earth Observatory
(http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/NaturalHazards/)
NOVA – Volcanoes Deadly Warning
(http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/volcano/)
For hurricanes
Wikipedia - Tropical Cyclone
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tropical_cyclone)
Palm beach post
(http://www.palmbeachpost.com/storm/content/storm/homepage/index.html)
NASA – Hurricanes
(http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/hurricanes/main/index.html)
How Stuff Works – Hurricanes
(http://www.howstuffworks.com/hurricane.htm)
Wired.com
(http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2009/04/weathermod/)
Hurricane Zone
(http://www.hurricanezone.net/)
Hurricane.com
Newscientist
(http://www.newscientist.com/topic/hurricane-season)
CDC Hurricanes
(http://www.bt.cdc.gov/disasters/hurricanes/)
Hurricane Resources
(http://www.cln.org/themes/hurricanes.html)
Environment Canada
(http://www.ns.ec.gc.ca/weather/hurricane/index_e.html)
Exploring the Environment
Hurricanes – Online metereology guide
(http://ww2010.atmos.uiuc.edu/%28Gh%29/guides/mtr/hurr/home.rxml)
National Hurricane Centre
Pew Climate
(http://www.pewclimate.org/hurricanes.cfm)
Environmental Literacy Council
(http://www.enviroliteracy.org/article.php/258.html)
Cuba Hurricanes
(http://www.cubahurricanes.org/)
Hurricanes and Climate Change
(http://www.usgcrp.gov/usgcrp/links/hurricanes.htm)
About.com
(http://geography.about.com/cs/hurricanes/a/hurricane.htm)
For tornado
Wikipedia
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tornado)
FEMA
(http://www.fema.gov/hazard/tornado/index.shtm)
NSSL NOAA
(http://www.nssl.noaa.gov/edu/safety/tornadoguide.html)
CDC
(http://www.bt.cdc.gov/disasters/tornadoes/)
Whyfiles
(http://whyfiles.org/013tornado/3.html)
How Stuff Works
(http://www.howstuffworks.com/tornado.htm)
About.com
(http://geography.about.com/od/physicalgeography/a/tornado.htm)
National Geographic
(http://www.nationalgeographic.com/xpeditions/lessons/15/gk2/tornadowhat.html)
Discover Magazine
(http://discovermagazine.com/2009/may/10-worlds-biggest-tornado-hunt|)
SPC NOAA
(http://www.spc.noaa.gov/faq/tornado/)
Enchanted Learning
(http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/weather/tornado/)
Tsunami
Wikipedia
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tsunami)
2004 Indian Ocean Earthquake
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2004_Indian_Ocean_earthquake)
Tsunami.org
Tsunami Book
World went wrong
(http://www.achr.net/000ACHRTsunami/Tsunami/Tsunami.htm)
Asian Tsunami Videos
(http://www.asiantsunamivideos.com/)
Tsunami help
(http://tsunamihelp.blogspot.com/)
UN Tsunami
(http://www.un.org/apps/news/infocusRel.asp?infocusID=102&Body=tsunami&Body1)
International Tsunami Information Centre
(http://ioc3.unesco.org/itic/)
Crystallinks
(http://www.crystalinks.com/tsunami.html)
How Stuff Works
(http://science.howstuffworks.com/tsunami.htm)
Tsunami – Wall of water book
Tsunami 2004.net
IOC
World Bank
Tsunami Hazard Mitigation Site
Nationalgeographic
(http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2005/01/0107_050107_tsunami_index.html)
Forces of Nature – Very good
(http://environment.nationalgeographic.com/environment/natural-disasters/forces-of-nature.html)
Nationalgeographic Environment
(http://environment.nationalgeographic.com/environment)
Earthquakes
Wikipedia
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earthquake)
How stuff works
(http://videos.howstuffworks.com/howstuffworks/236-how-earthquakes-work-video.htm)
Brittannica
(http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/176199/earthquake)
Earthquake Country
(http://www.earthquakecountry.info/)
USGS
EERI
NASA
(http://www.nasa.gov/worldbook/earthquake_worldbook.html)
3D Earthquake map
(http://www.wolton.net/quake.html)
Science daily
(http://www.sciencedaily.com/news/earth_climate/earthquakes/)
Explore
(http://42explore.com/quakes.htm)
Nationalgeographic
(http://environment.nationalgeographic.com/environment/natural-disasters/earthquake-profile.html)
Yahoo directory – Seismology
(http://dir.yahoo.com/Science/earth_sciences/geology_and_geophysics/seismology/)
Global Earthquake Model
(http://www.globalquakemodel.org/)
National Earthquake Hazard Reduction Program
Flickr Earthquake
(http://www.flickr.com/photos/tags/earthquake/)
FEMA
(http://www.fema.gov/hazard/earthquake/)
Wikinews
(http://en.wikinews.org/wiki/Strong_earthquake_strikes_off_the_coast_of_Taiwan)
How Stuff Works
(http://science.howstuffworks.com/earthquake.htm)
USGS Earthquake Hazard Program
National Earthquake Information Centre
(http://earthquake.usgs.gov/regional/neic/)
ANSS – Advanced National Seismic System
(http://earthquake.usgs.gov/research/monitoring/anss/)
Schedule
Here is a draft breakdown of what will be covered per week. Keep in mind that the dates can and probably will change. As you will notice, we have specious little time before predicate day, it is therefore important that you do not miss a single lecture. We will unfortunately have to utilize every minute of available time so set aside any others plans for Friday.
Date | Topic | Documentary to be watched |
31st of July 2009 | Introduction to Environmental Geology | Journey to the edge of the universe. Formation of the solar system |
7th of August 2009 | Volcanoes | Earth – Power of a planet Amazing Earth |
14th of August 2009 | Volcanoes | Built for destruction – Volcanoes Ultimate guide to volcanoes |
21st of August 2009 | Volcanoes | Megavolcano |
28th of August 2009 | Test 1 | Nothing |
4th of September 2009 | Earthquakes | Ultimate guide to earthquakes |
11th of September 2009 | Tsunamis and Floods | The day the wave struck Indian ocean tsunami Floods |
18th of September 2009 | Hurricanes | Burma Cyclone Hurricane 2 Hurricane 3 Hurricane 5 |
25th of September 2009 | TUT Holiday | Stay at home and watch something educational. |
2nd of October 2009 | Tornados | Storm chasers Tornado |
9th of October 2009 | Landslides and Asteroid Impacts | Earth Investigated - landslides Asteroid Impact |
16th of October 2009 | Wildfires | Wildfires |
23st of October 2009 | Test 2 | |
28th of October 2009 | Predicate day | Only look out for the predicate marks. |
30th of October 2009 | Tips and revision for exam | |
6th of November 2009 | Exam time | |
13th of November 2009 | Exam time | |
20th of November 2009 | Exam time | |
27th of November 2009 | Holidays | |
4th of December 2009 | Holidays |
Empty calender for time planning
Tests, Projects and Predicate
During the semester, you will write two semester tests and will have to do and hand in one project.
Dates have been proposed for the semester tests. Please note that the dates given may change, but you will be notified of any changes.
Your predicate will be calculated as follows
2 x Semester tests (34%) = 68%
1 x Project (32%) = 32%
________
Predicate = 100%
Please remember that you will need a sub-minimum of 40% for your predicate to be eligible to write the exam. If you do manage to write the exam you will need a 50% for a pass in the exam. Your total mark should also be 50% to pass. Anything between 40% and 50% entitles you to a supplementary exam.
Lecturer information
Rudolph Robbertze
Background: Environmental Sciences
Office: My Office (4-218) or the Environmental Chemistry Lab (3-131)
Directions to get to my office: In building 4, take the eastern set of stairs up to the second floor. Go through the purple double doors on the left in front of you. My office is the second one on the right hand side.
Cell: 082 860 4573
Tel: 012 382 6320
Email: Robbertzerpj@tut.ac.za
Email: Rudolph80@saol.com
Consultation times: 10:00 – 14:30 on Tuesdays for this subject.
Changes made to notes and slideshows
Some changes may have to be made to the slideshows and notes and since the DVD was created at the beginning of the semester it may not contain the most up to date version of the files. It is highly recommended that you create a free email address so that I can send any changes made to you during the semester. Email will also be used to communicate some other information to you like test results etc.
You can get a free email address at any of the following websites: www.,yahoo.com, www.hotmail.com or www.webmail.co.za
Make sure that you have given me your new email address so that the communications will reach you.
If possible only the newest versions of the files will be printed.
You are also welcome to visit the website specifically created for undergraduate students at TUT. This site can be found at tutundergrads.blogspot.com
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