Geology and Environment In Britain and Ireland

A complete introductory text on an increasingly popular subject, "Geology and Environment in Britain and Ireland" aims to provide suitably broad coverage for students requiring a treatment clearly focused on familiar examples but retaining a global perspective. The book summarizes for Earth and environmental scientists the ways in which geology relates to the natural environment and to the human activities that it supports.;The natural environment is more than the oceans, the atmosphere and the diversity of the land surface. It extends below the ground and stretches back in time through the Earth's history. These environmental dimensions are the concern of geology. First, the book summarizes the geological influences on society through control of landscape and human geography, and through the threats posed by hazards such as landslides, subsidence and earthquakes.;Next the many Earth resources that support human activity are described: land, water, construction materials, minerals, coal, oil and gas. How are they formed or replenished? Which resources are sustainable for use over more than the immediate geological future? Thirdly, the impacts of human activity on the Earth are exam