Environmental Geology was first published in 2021 by Pressbooks and is now being shared by The Groundwater Project to ensure it reaches a global audience. This book examines the ways in which geological processes interact with human activity and influence the environment. It introduces key concepts such as rock formation, plate tectonics, earthquakes, volcanoes, landslides, water systems, energy resources, climate change, and waste. The book emphasizes how Earth’s physical systems, such as the geosphere, hydrosphere, and atmosphere, are interconnected and how those connections shape both natural hazards and human impacts.
The book is written by Steve Earle, PhD, a geologist and professor with over 45 years of experience, teaching a wide range of Earth Science courses at Vancouver Island University. He is also the author of another widely used textbook, Physical Geology, which has been used by geology students across North America and around the globe. Environmental Geology is written for college-level students and combines scientific fundamentals with practical examples to help readers understand and respond to environmental issues. Each chapter includes visuals and self-assessment tools to reinforce learning. The overarching aim is to encourage informed decision-making around sustainability, resource use, and risk management in a rapidly changing world.
Each chapter of the book includes a list of learning objectives and exercises at the end to ensure the objectives are successfully met. The author builds readers’ understanding of Earth and environmental science progressively throughout the chapters. He begins by examining Earth in space and providing a review of the main aspects of physical geology, creating a foundation for understanding Earth’s processes and past events and helping readers recognize and approach current and future events. Within each chapter, the author includes clear and illustrative examples of Earth processes, beginning with an overview of the Earth system, Earth in space, and environmental geology.
Environmental Geology presents evidence from Earth’s past and geological records to clarify and distinguish natural events from those that can be caused or accelerated by human activity. Building on these natural events, the author integrates practical examples showing how human activities have either been affected by or have influenced current events. However, the author does not stop there: he also explains how these events can be predicted and how their potential damage can be minimized. He encourages readers to step outside and learn from the geological processes visible in their surrounding environment, emphasizing that each process discussed in the book can be observed through real-world examples. It is an excellent resource for students, a valuable textbook for professors and teachers, and a compelling read for anyone interested in Earth’s systems around the globe.
Groundwater is given an important place in the book, beginning with the chapter on water resources and continuing as a key connector between many of Earth’s systems and processes. It plays a role in chemical and mass transfers between the geosphere, hydrosphere, and biosphere, linking water systems from land to oceans. The book also discusses groundwater’s importance in volcanism, its relationship to sedimentary deposits and processes, earthquakes, and landslides, as well as how it can be affected by climate change.
The book’s final message clearly illustrates why climate change is real, predictable, and a pressing concern while, consistent with the other chapters, offering concrete examples of how action can be taken at many levels of daily life. It is an invaluable resource that The Groundwater Project is proud to make freely available to audiences worldwide.
To download the book, visit:
https://gw-project.org/books/environmental-geology/