Editing Environmental geology (section)

== Environmental geology in relation to other fields ==

=== Hydrogeology ===
[[Hydrogeology]] is the area of [[geology]] that deals with the distribution and movement of [[groundwater]] in the [[soil]] and [[Rock (geology)|rocks]] of the Earth's [[Crust (geology)|crust]]. Environmental geology is applied in this field as environmental problems are created in [[groundwater pollution]] due to mining, agriculture, and other human activities. Pollution is the impairment of groundwater by heat, bacteria, or chemicals. The greatest contributors to groundwater pollution are surface sources such as fertilizers, leaking sewers, polluted streams, and mining/mineral wastes.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Lerner |first1=David N. |last2=Harris |first2=Bob |date=2009-12-01 |title=The relationship between land use and groundwater resources and quality |url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0264837709001306 |journal=Land Use Policy |series=Land Use Futures |language=en |volume=26 |pages=S265–S273 |doi=10.1016/j.landusepol.2009.09.005 |issn=0264-8377}}</ref> Environmental geology approaches the groundwater pollution problem by creating objectives when monitoring.

These objectives include:

* determining the nature, extent, and degree of contamination,
* determining the propagation mechanism and hydrological parameters, so that the appropriate countermeasures can be taken,
* detecting and warning of movement into critical areas,
* assessing the effectiveness of the immediate countermeasures undertaken to offset the effects of contamination,
* recording of data for long term evaluation and compliance with standards, and 
* initiating research monitoring to validate and verify the models and assumptions upon which the immediate countermeasures are based.

=== Soil Science ===
[[Soil science]] is the study of soil as a natural resource on the surface of the Earth. Environmental geology is applied in this field as soil scientists raise concerns on soil preservation and arable land with the world increasing population, increasing per capita food consumption, and [[land degradation]]. These environmental problems are attacked and reduced with environmental geology by using soil surveys.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Brevik |first1=Eric C. |last2=Miller |first2=Bradley A. |date=2015 |title=The Use of Soil Surveys to Aid in Geologic Mapping with an Emphasis on the Eastern and Midwestern United States |url=https://dl.sciencesocieties.org/publications/sh/abstracts/56/4/sh15-01-0001 |journal=Soil Horizons |language=en |volume=56 |issue=4 |pages=0 |doi=10.2136/sh15-01-0001 |issn=2163-2812}}</ref> These surveys assess the properties of soils and are of use in geologic mapping, rural and urban land planning, especially in terms of agriculture and forestry. Soil surveys are essential parts of land use planning and mapping as they provide insight on agricultural land usage. Soil surveys provide information on optimum cropping systems and soil management so less land degradation is done and agriculture provides its optimum yield for the increasing per capita food consumption.<ref name=":0" />

Soil survey investigations include:

* soil [[Erosion|erodibility]],
* depth of soil, 
* steepness of slope,
* shrink-swell potential,
* frequency of rock outcrops,
* possibility of salinization
* fertilizer-plant response, and 
* crop variety trials.