European Federation of Geologists

Geology and Geology and environmental changeenvironmental change

Peter Whiteside & Isabel FernandezEFG-coordinator EIA panel of experts

EFG office director

European Federation of Geologists

The role of geology in Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs)

The role of geology in predicting future climate change

European Federation of Geologists

The role of geology in Environmental Impact The role of geology in Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs)Assessments (EIAs)

European Federation of Geologists

The EIA Process – main stages

Screening

Scoping

Studies

Monitoring & audit

Is an EIA required ?

What should the EIA cover ?

Study of impacts

Verification of predictions

The role of geology in Environmental Impact The role of geology in Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs)Assessments (EIAs)

European Federation of Geologists

The role of geology in Environmental Impact The role of geology in Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs)Assessments (EIAs)

Geological Processes

Physical Environment

Habitat - Ecosystem

eg mountain building, erosion & deposition

eg hillslopes, floodplains, rivers, estuaries, sea

eg forests, grasslands, wetlands, beaches, seabed, coral reefs

Geological perspective on the environment

European Federation of Geologists

The role of geology in Environmental Impact The role of geology in Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs)Assessments (EIAs)

Examples of geological information used in EIAs

Geological maps

Site inspection

Records of mining and quarrying

Records of groundwater extraction

Existing borehole records

Aerial photos

Seismic records

European Federation of Geologists

Examples of important geological factors in EIAsExamples of important geological factors in EIAs

Risk to people and property

Landslides, earthquakes, radon from bedrock, undermining, eroding coasts

Soils

Peat/Fens, beaches, cultivated topsoils

Water

Aquifers, karst areas, rivers, lakes, estuaries, seas

Landscape features

Mountains ranges, gorges / valleys, waterfalls, sea shore & cliffs, caves

Natural materials

Rock & minerals above and below ground, marine sand & gravel

Cultural heritage

Sites of special scientific interest, archaeological sites including mining

European Federation of Geologists

The role of geology in Environmental Impact The role of geology in Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAsAssessments (EIAs))

Examples of the role of geology in EIAs and related studies

Sustainable use of groundwater – FINLAND

Contamination in groundwater – ITALY

Environmental geological map - HUNGARY

European Federation of Geologists

Sustainable use of groundwater :-

Computer modeling

Planned extraction rate

Aquifers can recharge

Ecosystems not affected

Monitor to check predictions

FINLANDFINLAND

European Federation of Geologists

The role of geology in Environmental Impact The role of geology in Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAsAssessments (EIAs))

Sustainable use of groundwater :

Computer modeling

Planned extraction rate

Aquifers can recharge

Ecosystems not affected

Monitor to check predictions

European Federation of Geologists

Groundwater flow model

Modeling approach

European Federation of Geologists

The role of geology in Environmental Impact The role of geology in Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAsAssessments (EIAs))

ITALY

Predicting contamination changes in groundwater

Years of chemical pollution from industrial site

Complex geology and hydrogeology

Computer modeling of groundwater flow

Predictions of contamination levels

Remedial design

European Federation of Geologists

ITALYITALY

Conceptual model of groundwater flow

European Federation of Geologists

ITALYITALY

Groundwater flow model

European Federation of Geologists

The role of geology in Environmental Impact The role of geology in Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAsAssessments (EIAs))

Environmental geological map

Collect field data, boreholes, etc

Collect data on mining, waste disposal, groundwater

Make digital maps with a GIS

Land-use planning, for water supply, quarrying, etc

European Federation of Geologists

Example of digital

map data

European Federation of Geologists

The role of geology in predicting future climate The role of geology in predicting future climate changechange

European Federation of Geologists

The role of geology in predicting future climate The role of geology in predicting future climate changechange

Geological records of past climate

• Climate evidence preserved throughout the geological past• Important to distinguish between natural and man-made

changes• Recent geological past helps understand natural climate

changes• Sea-level rose 120 metres during global warming from

18000 to 6000 years ago• Climate relatively stable since 6000 years ago but natural

changes in temperature continue to the present-day

European Federation of Geologists

The role of geology in predicting future climate The role of geology in predicting future climate changechange

Examples of geological indicators of climate change

Sediments and ice cores give indications of past climate : Pollen and organic content temperature and

precipitation.

Layered clays in lakes erosion & deposition precipitation & temperature.

The remains of animal species climate.

Ratio of oxygen isotopes continuous measure of temperature.

Computer models help in predicting future changes.

European Federation of Geologists

The role of geology in predicting future climate The role of geology in predicting future climate changechange

Examples of geological studies which record climate changes

Evidence of sea-level changes from marine sediments – BELGIUM

Reconstruction of past climates : Clues to the future – SWEDEN

South Atlantic island sediments show details of past climate – SWEDEN

Climate change in the alpine region - SWITZERLAND

European Federation of Geologists

The role of geology in predicting future climate The role of geology in predicting future climate changechange

Seismic surveys show pattern of marine sediments

Deposition & erosion linked to global sea-level changes

Sediment deposited 120,000 years ago : sea-level like today

Sediment eroded during ice age : sea-level lower than today

Today, new sediments deposited and form tidal sandbanks.

European Federation of Geologists

Seismic surveys to study the pattern of sediments below the seabed

European Federation of Geologists

Present day water depth showing tidal sandbanks

(Red is shallow and blue is deep)

European Federation of Geologists

The role of geology in predicting future climate The role of geology in predicting future climate changechange

Sediment core information about the past

Pollen & organic remains climate information

Grasses & tree type temperature & precipitation

European Federation of Geologists

Study of pollen reveals the type of environment and climate

European Federation of Geologists

Lake sediments on island in south Atlantic analysed

Sediments indicate

•major warm phase at 8700 years ago

•periods of higher temperature and rain since then

Warm periods correspond to cool periods in north Atlantic

Temperature contrasts due to changes of oceanic currents

Computer models agree with the sediment data

European Federation of Geologists

Model results for sea surface temperature about 8000 years ago

South Atlantic was warmer

European Federation of Geologists

Model results for precipitation about 8000 years ago

South Atlantic was wetter

European Federation of Geologists

The role of geology in predicting future climate The role of geology in predicting future climate changechange

Climate warming documented in the Alpine region using

magnitude and frequency of extreme rainfall

mean elevation of zero temperature

historical records

Melting & freezing cycles and loss of permafrost zone cause

Rock and debris flows which are a major threats

Example : 30 million cubic metres event in Randa, 1991

European Federation of Geologists

Change in the Rhone Glacier 1856 - 1998

European Federation of Geologists

30 million cubic metres rock debris flow in Randa in 1991

European Federation of Geologists

Geology and environmental changeGeology and environmental change

The EFG would like to thank you for your attention