8. Geology for society and the environment

Abstract

Geology is involved, somehow or another, in most of the resources that sustain us. Equally, it is a significant factor in many of the hazards that threaten us, and geology is often involved in devising means of avoiding, or counteracting, or simply of living with, these hazards as sensibly as possible. ‘Geology for society and the environment’ considers both Earth-generated hazards, such as volcanoes, earthquakes, and tsunamis, and human-made geological hazards, including the rise in carbon release fuelling climate change and the ever-increasing volume of waste materials and pollutants. It looks at how geology is used to help devise the best means for society to deal with these hazards.