Authorised by Academic Registrar, April 1996
Objectives On the completion of this subject students will be able to make qualitative and quantitative predictions of where and how much water will move through the earth's surface and crust; estimate quantitatively the compositions of natural waters; show how the concentrations of elements in waters will respond to changes in acidity, redox and salinity; show how waters interact with minerals and rocks at or near the earth's surface.; discuss some of the aspects of present day environmental problems facing geoscientists
Synopsis This subject introduces students to topics important in studying environmental problems related to earth sciences. It consists of three main parts: theory of groundwater flow, aqueous geochemistry and problems in environmental geoscience. The first part is an introduction to the theory of groundwater flow in porous media. The second part is a review or introduction to those aspects of aqueous geochemistry that are relevant to studying the geochemistry of waters related to environmental problems, e.g., acid-base and redox reactions, mineral and gas solubilities in waters and speciation of elements in waters. The final part of the subject is intended to show how the first two parts are necessary in studying present-day environmental problems, eg acid-mine drainage, contamination from land fill/waste sites, algal blooms in surface waters.
Assessment Examinations (2 hours): 50% + Laboratory work/assignments: 50%