SESSION TOPICS & CONVENERS

Muharrem SATIR was born in 1945 in Rize in the Eastern Pontides. Muharrem SATIR graduated from İstanbul University with a degree in geology in 1968 and started to work in Maden Tetkik ve Arama (MTA) Enstitüsü, the acting geological survey of Turkey. He obtained a scholarschip from the MTA Enstitüsü for a doctoral study and went to the University of Bern in Switzerland and completed his PhD study in 1975 in the Institute für Mineralogie und Petrographie under the supervision of Dr. Jäger. Muharrem SATIR continued his research as post-doctoral fellow in Berlin Technical University and the University of Münich in 1976−1977. Muharrem SATIR returned to Ankara to join the MTA Institute as vice director of the Geology Section in 1977-1980.

Muharrem SATIR worked as a chief assistant in the Geochemical Institute of Tübingen University during 1980-1984, and then between 1984−1988 he was employed as a junior (C2) professor in the Munich Technical University and was finally appointed as a full (C4) professor and head of the Geochemistry Institute of Tübingen University in 1989, where he stayed until his retirement in 2010. In Tübingen he also acted as vice-dean between 1998 and 2000 and dean between 2000 and 2004.

Muharrem SATIR has over 200 publications as well as acted as a referee and editorial board members for many scientific journals. He also organized many scientific meetings in Turkey and Europe.

Besides his scientific achievements, Muharrem SATIR has been very active in the social sphere, furthering constructive scientific and social relations between Turkey and Germany and Turkey. He has been president of the Stuttgart Turkish-German Society in 1988-1993, founding member and president of the Turkish-German Liberal Baden-Württemberg Forum in 1993-2003, president of the Çanakkale-Tübingen Troia Foundation. He mentored a large number of geology students from various geology departments in Turkey, both at undergraduate and post-graduate levels.

Muharrem SATIR received the title of “Honorary Doctorate” at Istanbul University in 1993, “Manfred Rommel” award at the German-Turkish Forum in 2010 and “Order of Merit” from the State of Baden-Württemberg in 2012.

Nowadays human activities have become the most effective shaping factor on nature. Each passing day, because of increasing human-sourced activities like industrialization, urbanization use of fossil fuels, uncontrolled mining and agricultural activities creates anthropogenic pollution in nature, for this reason many organisms are damaged and decreased. Anthropogenic pollution studies have been extensively performed in the world in the middle of the 19th century and in our country since the early 20th century. Especially, since the beginning of the 2000’s, due to the fact that these anthropogenic effects are measurable on observed geological rocks and events, it has been proposed to leaving the geological series Holocene, and should be entered into a new one namely the Anthropocene. Investigation of the anthropogenic pollution and the limitation of Anthropocene time interval are interdisciplinary studies and they influence in all of earth, ocean and atmospheric sciences.

In this regards, Anthropocene and Anthropogenic Pollution Session was successfully held for the first time in 72nd Geological Congress of Turkey with great interest. We welcome your contributions with valuable presentations to the Anthropocene and Anthropogenic Pollution Session will be held for the second time in 73rd Geological Congress of Turkey to create awareness about the importance of the topic and sharing information with interdisciplinary colleagues.

Information technologies are related to the network, physical devices and relevant infrastructures for accessing, producing, processing, storing, protecting and modifying any data electronically. In recent years, remote sensing and geographic information systems have been an indispensable components of information technologies. Producing, evaluating and analyzing the spatial data will also be an indispensable part of humanity in the future, which is used by all segments of society, with or without awareness.

By courtesy of the opening of defense applications to civilian life and the development of informatics and space technologies, the applications on remote sensing and geographic information systems are being used successfully in many areas that affect human life. In addition to the most widely used international applications such as Google Earth, the MTA Geosciences Portal developed by the General Directorate of Mineral Research and Exploration, the HGM Globe and HGM Atlas applications developed by the General Directorate of Mapping and the ATLAS application, developed by the General Directorate of Geographic Information Systems provides free maps and satellite images of many Public Institutions based on remote sensing and geographic information systems.

In addition to technological developments, there are international standards for the production and sharing of digital data. Turkish National Geographic Information Systems (TUCBS) Infrastructure was established based on European Union Spatial Data Infrastructure (INSPIRE) Directive and among others, The Turkish Geological Data Standards are being prepared.

In this context, we consider that it is very important to present and discuss your researches on earth sciences or interdisciplinary researches including earth sciences, to share technical and scientific developments within the geological community in the session of geographic information systems and remote sensing of 73rd Geological Congress of Turkey. Hoping for more widespread and useful communication and cooperation in scientific and technical terms, by bringing together researchers, engineers, company representatives, decision makers and students working in these fields on the same platform, you are invited to be together in 73rd Geological Congress of Turkey.

The continental fragments, which comprise Turkey, were located on the passive and active margins of the oceans in the last 600 million years.  Continuing plate movements have resulted in the exposure of different rocks types of varying ages ace in Anatolia.  In this respect, Anatolia provides an excellent laboratory for studies on tectonics and regional geology. As conveners of the “Regional Geology and Tectonics” session we invite you to submit the results of your geological and geophysical studies in Turkey and its vicinity. The “Regional Geology and Tectonics” session has a wide scope and includes all field-based stratigraphy, ophiolite-mélange, paleomagnetism, paleontology, structural, petrology and isotope studies and their applications to other geological fields. The session is geared towards a better understanding of the geology of Turkey and the neighbouring regions.

Environmental Geology provides a broad framework of research methods in various disciplines to protect the natural environment. Therefore, environmental geology, in essence, represents a multidisciplinary field and studies the impacts of natural environment on human activities and human activities on natural life. In this framework, Environmental Geology makes significant contributions to the management of natural disasters and major engineering structures, as well as the management of natural resources and environmental health with public health and safety, particularly in site selection, planning and decision-making processes. It has an important function in environmental management and sustainability issues, as well. On the other hand, Environmental Geology is a new area of ​​interest that covers the philosophical, ethical and cultural issues affecting the environment. It can easily be said from this point that although Environmental Geology derives its basic heritage from geology, it is situated at the crossroads of different disciplines and necessitates a multidisciplinary joint study. Therefore, our call text is that everyone who needs the contribution and is also heartfelt to the protection of the environment and nature.

The expression of the beauties that fit the heart, face and skin of human beings, and the ones that exist in every field and every period of social life have a very special place within the science of geology. “Precious and Semi-Precious Stones” issue recognized as stars of the world of the minerals and rocks have been carried out as a separate session for the first time in 70th Turkey Geological Congress, will be held as separate sessions for 4th times in the 73th Turkey Geological Congress. The increasing interest and demand for “Precious and Semi-Precious Stones brought about the necessity to investigate this issue in every aspect and to evaluate it with certain scientific standards. For this reason, within the scope of the congress attribution og gemology, which is the science of Precious and Semi-Precious Stones, is related to fields such as mineralogy, geology, archeology, and the place in the mining legislation, exploration, processing, investigation with scientific methods structuring, marketing, branding, ethical problems of gemstones in mining sector and so on topics will be covered. If you esteemed scientists have something to share with the gemstone taste about the definition and promotion of a new beauty, your participation as “Oral” or “Poster” presentation will add value to our congress. We wish to meet in 73th Turkey Geological Congress.

Turkey is subject to frequent natural disasters such as earthquakes, floods, mass movement, storms, cyclone, climate change, drought etc., are often experience. When adequate measures have not been taken, these events turn into disaster and they lead to loss of life and property. Because of disaster, 2-5% of Turkey national income is lost every year. In order to reduce these losses, it is necessary to comprehensive interdisciplinary studies and these studies should be managed effectively. Disaster management can be defined as the organization and management of resources and responsibilities for dealing with all humanitarian aspects of emergencies, in particular preparedness, response and recovery in order to lessen the impact of disasters. Geoscience has important responsibilities in all phases of disaster management.

Natural disasters and disaster management section will be presented all kinds of articles related to natural disasters and disaster management.

The importance of natural stones and industrial minerals, which is the locomotive of the mining sector in our country that takes the first place in the export, will be possible by increasing the number of scientific researches in this field. Within this context, investigation of Turkey’s potentials and efficient use of known resources pose utmost importance.

In this session, scientific studies on “Natural Building Stones and Industrial Minerals”, which has a special significance for geologists will be presented. Thus, studies dealing with the subjects given below will be considered for evaluation by the committee of the session.

Natural Building Stones

Aggregates and Crushed Stones (concrete, asphalt, ballast, embankments materials, armor stones etc.)
Dimensional stones (limestone, marble, travertine & onyx, granite and other hard stones, pavement & curb stones and decorative stones) and geological parameters effecting production efficiency and usability
The utilization of leftover materials in stone quarries
Deterioration problems and conservation methods of natural stones used in archaeological & historical buildings and engineering structures
Industrial Minerals

Raw materials for Ceramic and Glass Industry
Raw materials for Cement and Mineral additives
Raw materials for Plaster and Lime
Raw materials for Brick and Roofing tile
Light-weight building materials (Pumice, perlite etc.)
Other utilizations of natural stones (stone wool, cast basalt, fiber etc.)
Boron minerals
Zeolite minerals
Clay minerals
Raw materials for Fertilizer
Refractory minerals

The need for energy in the global scale continuously increases in parallel with the increasing population and technological progress. In today’s world, this energy requirement continues to be met mostly from fossil fuels and renewable energy sources. Therefore, geoscientific studies on the exploration of fossil fuels and renewable energy sources, such as geothermal energy, continue without losing speed.

The aim of this session is to discuss geological, geochemical and geophysical studies on fossil fuels and renewable energy resources on a scientific platform. However, this session is open to participants who will be transferring environmentally friendly new technologies used in energy transformation to stakeholders. We expect scientists working on fossil fuels, renewable energy sources and technologies to participate in this session and share their information.

We are happy to give a warm welcome to our undergraduate students at the “Future Geoscientists” session in the Geological Congress of Turkey that will be held for the 73rd time between 06-10 April 2020.

Today, many undergraduate students participate in national and international projects and carry out their research by benefiting from project funds. We invite the senior undergraduate students who have involved in the projects or have done their projects to present their original works at the “Future Geoscientists” session, which will be held for the third time this year.

This special session will support the development of scientific ideas of our young colleagues; create an efficient environment by providing them an exchange of information; enable them to explore the recent geological studies; help them to meet with the scientists who they know from articles and books; allow them to meet and join with their future colleagues from different universities, and provide them with a great experience.

Abstracts should be prepared with the student’s advisor following the scientific criteria and congress rules. Students can present their original projects/researches orally or as a poster under the rules stated on the Congress page.

We will be honored to see all geoscientists among us to support the young colleagues with their knowledge and experience at the “Future Geoscientists” session of the 73rd Geological Congress of Turkey, which will be held at the MTA Cultural and Convention Center.

This session welcomes abstracts on volcanic, tectonic landforms and geological processes encompassing atmospheric (e.g CO2 level), geochemical studies on rocky planets on solar system bodies with observational, experimental, or theoretical approaches. Understanding of geological processes shaping rocky planets will improve our knowledge about Solar system bodies. More understanding of geological and atmospheric characteristics of rocky planets is particularly important since we are getting ready to launch Moon and Mars. This planetary session comprising cosmochemistry, geomicrobiology, and remote sensing also welcomes asteroid and meteorite  studies  often investigated for origin of life.

Water is an essential natural resource for all life on earth. Existence or scarcity of water has been the key factor that has determined the rise and fall of civilizations. The 21st century, an era of rapid changes will most likely experience severe problems in supplying sufficient water of good quality where it is needed due to increase and mobility of the population as well as the natural and human-caused alteration on surface and groundwater resources in addition to climate change. Today, about 800 million people on the planet do not have access to clean and safe drinking water, while more than 2.5 billion people suffer from the lack of basic sanitation. Lack of proper sanitation and hygiene kills about 1.6 million people every year. The projections for the future suggest that the human population on earth will increase to 9.6 billion by the year 2050, which means an even greater stress on water resources and more severe problems related to water supply and sanitation will occur. Water resources have been considered as an economic commodity and a strategic natural resource for the last 40 years. This complicates the management of water services. With the effect of climate change, it increases the tension between neighboring countries in transboundary watersheds.

Therefore, it is important to focus on the correct water policies in both national and international dimensions and to carry out studies on this issue. In this session, topics related to hydrogeology, water resource management, water policies, natural and man-made pollutants affecting water will be discussed. We strongly encourage all scientists and engineers involved in water to submit an abstract for this special session.

Geodesy is a branch of science that deals with the position, shape, size and the gravity field of the earth in a four-dimensional space and any measurements to be made for this purpose. Geodetic studies which initiated with the astronomical observations have gained use in numerous application areas with the development of satellite technologies: cadastral works, deformation monitoring of structures (buildings, dams, bridges etc.), determination of atmospheric water vapor variations and the total electron content of the ionosphere, navigation and attitude determination of air platforms, tectonic plate movements, modeling of earthquakes, etc. In particular, Global Navigation Satellite Systems and Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR) observations enabled to monitor the continuous and episodic deformation of the earth crust with high precision. Keeping in mind that the interdisciplinary studies will also improve each discipline individually, we invite all researchers to contribute with their abstracts to the Geodesy session in which various geodetic applications will take place.

The geodynamics session would like to call for contributions focusing on geodynamical processes at every scale such as lithospheric subduction (ocean and continental), plume impingement, delamination, convective removal/instabilities, rifting, collision, obduction, fold-thrust belt formations. The purpose of this session is to bring together different viewpoints on these first order geodynamic phenomena as well as their potential impacts on the evolution of surface (dynamic) topography, anisotropy, magmatism, metamorphism and seismicity. Please consider submitting abstract into this new session at TJK.

Dear Colleagues,

We hope that you will consider submitting your contributions to the special session on the “Geophysical Methods and Their Applications to Geological Problems” for the upcoming 73rd Geological Congress of Turkey (TJK) that will be held between 6-10 April 2019, at the MTA General Directorate Cultural Center in Ankara, Turkey.

With a multi-disciplinary motivation in mind, this session invites contributions from all geoscientists that include, but are not limited to, seismology, seismic, potential fields, electric and electromagnetic methods, in a joint effort to resolve complex geological problems. In addition to applied  geophysics, analogue and numerical modeling studies, as well as recent progress in instrumentation, are also invited.

Geomorphology as the multidisciplinary science of understanding processes, mechanism, and evolution of the earth surface focusses on not only surface processes but also mantle and crustal processes. Recent developments on the remote sensing, geodetical and seismological technologies, computer-based modeling and simulations and absolute dating methods allow earth scientists to map and investigate those processes from microscale to continental scale from second to million-time scales. These developments substantially improve the contribution of geomorphological studies on fluvial, coastal, karst, glacial, peri-glacial, aeolian, sub-marine, seismic, tectonic, volcanic and gravitational processes not only on the earth but also extraterrestrial planets such as Mars. On the other hand, there is an increased interest in geomorphological studies because of the increasing of the impact of geohazards such as floods, earthquakes, and landslides in recent years.

To 73nd Geological Congress of Turkey, we would like to invite all the scientists that proposals, conclusions, and the preliminary results of local and regional wide range of studies including mapping, modelling and geochronology (14C, Cosmogenic, Luminescence) of landforms and processes on the earth and extraterrestrial planets and geohazards that have impacts on our society.

Engineering Geology plays an important role in regulating the interactions that may occur between the environment and technical attempts related to the ground. It aims to define, digitize and coordinate the boundary conditions in the environment. Engineering Geology examines, evaluates methods, process and monitoring options of the applications and assists the design, by considering the professional principles of the science of geology. Based on the fact that it is impossible to prevent natural processes in the earth’s crust, it aims to manage natural hazards without turning into risks and to acquire natural resources in the most appropriate way for human benefit. Engineering Geology considers the safety of city and environmental health. It supervises the integrated impact of boundary conditions in spatial planning, project design and land use. In other words, it prioritizes the balance between protection-use and preservation-use.

In Urban Geology, Engineering Geology and Geotechnical Session of 73rd Geological Congress of Turkey, it is aimed to discuss, present and share of experiences related to creation of safe cities, investigation of the interaction between geological environment and the technical attempts, ground behavior during the design, construction and usage/maintenance phases of engineering projects.

As the Executive Committee of the Session, we are excitedly hoping that our colleagues in the public, university and private sectors will participate in the Congress with or without paper. In this way, we believe that you will contribute to universal science and dissemination of engineering geology applications and we wish to meet in Ankara on the days of the Congress.

The development of the interdisciplinar study culture enforces the inevitable emergence of different scientific branches. “Cultural Geology”, “Geological Heritage” and “Geoarcheology” are rapidly developing scientific branches under the earth sciences in recent years.

Natural factors (natural phenomena ,climate, geography, environment, landform, water and sea level changes etc.) have various effects on all activites of mankind from its dawn to the present. With this scope, “Cultural Geology” can be defined as a science branch that investigates the cultural development within the framework of geological methods.

“Geological Heritage” is the remnants of the evolution of the earth, and is a perfect source for  “Geopark” and “Geotourism” applications. These are valuable tools of nowadays most needed sustainable development via nature conservation and education practices. With the present day understanding, the “Geological Heritage” is not only the natural assets of our country but are also silent teachers to learn about the geological past and why the nature should be protected, as well as being elements of international cooperation. Turkey and its surrounding regions includes a rich geological heritage thanks to the paleo-continental mosaic created by the closure of the Tethyan ocean.

“Geoarchaeology”, may be defined as the usage of geological approaches and analytical methods in the evaluation of the data in the field of archaeology. This new and developing scientific approach requires a multi-disciplinary scientific research environment.  In order to put forward the importance of this new scientific approach and adopt it by wider groups, it is essential to present studies on this subject in national and international meetings.

We invite you all the valuable earth-scientists to participate in the “Cultural Geology, Geological Heritage and Geoarchaeology” session of the 73th Geological Congress of Turkey with your contributions on the congress theme, “geology and geopolitics” and enrich this developing session with your presentations.

Dear Colleagues,

We would like to encourage you to contribute to a session on “Magmatic and Metamorphic Petrology” that has been scheduled for the 73rd Geological Congress of Turkey, which will take place from 6 to 10 April 2020 in Ankara, Turkey. The aim of this session is to discuss all aspects of magmatic and metamorphic processes and to integrate geological, mineralogical, geochemical and geodynamic constraints to advance our understanding of magmatic, metamorphic and dynamic processes in variable tectonic settings. This session will cover a wide range of magmatic and metamorphic processes that occur within the Earth’s mantle and crust. It will host discussions on subjects such as the conditions and products of primary melting in the mantle, tectonic controls on magma genesis, and the processes and time-scales of melt transport and storage, as well as the development and significance of metamorphic belts. We encourage all contributions that describe petrologic, geochemical, mineralogical and geodynamic characteristics of magmatic and metamorphic suites.

Geology is based on observations and cannot be learned just from books. The profession is basically learned in the field through master apprentice relations from the knowledge passed on from an Experienced Geologist.

Taking this reality into consideration, retired geological engineers who have contributed to the geology of Turkey are asked to share their knowledge and experiences with the young generation of geological engineers. Experienced Geologists are invited to talk about the problems they encountered and the measures they took to solve them.

In particular speakers are invited to talk about their personal experiences, studies on determination and definition of active faults and nature originated disasters, geotechnical studies of important engineering structures like bridge, dam, thermic power plants etc., studies on mineral deposits, oil explorations, water resources, environment etc.  Speakers are also asked to talk about how and when geological studies relating to natural resources forming the basis of the industry in Turkey started and developed.

Turkey, as a part of the Tethyan Metallogenic Belt, contains variety of ore deposits mostly discovered by surface exploration techniques. Although the discovery of near-surface mineral deposits in Turkey have been almost completed to date, the blind ore bodies are still waiting to be discovered by combination of high-cost surface geochemical, airborne, and sophisticated geophysical exploration techniques.

The temporal and spatial distribution, genesis, structural and geological key features of discovered ore deposits provide sound basis so as to design exploration programs for the regional and local targets for further exploration projects. Therefore, the exploration projects with international standards run both by public and private companies, have resulted in new discoveries in the recent years.

We trust that 73rd Geological Congress, Turkey’s long-established organization, will be excellent forum for the discussion of the results by exploration projects carried out by public and private companies, and scientific findings by academia.

In this respect, the session “Metallic Mineral Deposits” to be held in the congress will focus on the;

Geology, geochemistry, structural features of the ore deposits in the Tethyan Metallogenic Belt
Temporal and spatial distribution of the ore deposits in the Tethyan Metallogenic Belt
Future outlook to metallic ore deposits
Remote sensing in mineral exploration
Three-dimensional geological modelling and resource estimation studies
Artificial intelligence, machine learning and the integration of other digitalization processes into mine exploration by geologists
In addition, the session “Metallic Mineral Deposits” will provide opportunities for economic geologists with international participation to discuss and develop mutual cooperation.

Earthquakes, which are the most important result of the active deformations in our country, are the major natural disaster. Crustal movements such as earthquakes and volcanic activity over the past year in the world scale have caused the community to concentrate on the “Living Earth” as well as scientists dealing with earth sciences. Understanding of these natural phenomena directly affecting human life, and presenting the disaster risk with current and multidisciplinary methods are crucial both in minimizing the loss of life in a possible earthquake and in reducing the economic and social damages. The catastrophic events have provided important information about the neotectonic period and the seismicity of the regions in addition to their cause of life and property losses. In this context, it is known that the data collected through a number of national and international projects on geologic, seismological, geodetic features and paleoseismological history of the seismic sources causing the earthquakes. In order to present these data and discuss the results, we invite you to participate in the “Neotectonics and Seismicity” session of the 73rd Geological Congress of Turkey, 5-day festival of earth sciences.

Fossils are one of the most important evidence in understanding the biological and geological evolution of the Earth. Fossils are widely used to determine and correlate the relative age of rocks, to better understand the plate tectonics theory, to create paleoenvironment, paleoclimate and evolutionary models. By determining the time and spatial distributions of micro-macrofauna and flora lifes, bioprovens are defined and biogeographic and stratigraphic relations are established with each other. During geological times, Anatolia played an important role in the terrestrial and marine distribution of all livings between Europe-Asia and Africa. The “Paleontology, Paleogeography, Paleoclimate” session is open to all disciplines such as taxonomy-biostratigraphy-evolution, paleoecology-environment, paleoclimatology, paleobiogeography and paleoarcheology. We expect and consider the original works on all subjects relevant to paleontology, paleogeography and paleoclimate.

Expected presentation subjects are; recent drilling technology and application, drilling problems and overcoming down-hole problems, well design and construction, drilling equipment selection and efficient use, health and safety at drilling, drilling mud and additives, drilling logging, recording and reporting.

Dear Geoscientists, 73rd Turkish Geological Congress with international participants will be held at the MTA General Directorate Cultural Center, Ankara between 6 and 10 April, 2020.

There are many sessions in different disciplines related to earth sciences at the congress and we will be honored to see you among us during Stratigraphy and Sedimentology session. Evaluation and interpretation of stratigraphic data is one of the primary studies conducted in almost every General Geology sub branch.

In this congress, it is welcome to see studies on lacustrine, marine and terrestrial sediment generation, transportation, deposition in Quaternary and Phanerozoic time slices. It will also pleasure for us to have abstracts on stratigraphic aspects and correlation of paleoclimatic and paleoceanographic records. Our session will also cover sedimentological contribution on oil and gas exploration, mining, and raw materials and associated reservoir and source rock investigation.

In addition to that, it is also bring up the subject for investigation on other planets for climatologic, sedimentologic and biologic aspects for human being.

Technological and hypothetical developments in studying modern and paleodepositional systems such as cyclostratigraphy, chemostratigraphy, sequence stratigraphy, dating methods for Quaternary and older time periods will also affect our perspectives as in previous congresses. We also improve and help to better understand the geologic studies of Turkey and eastern Mediterranean region. In addition, the geological evolution of the marine and lake basins, paleochinography, paleolimnology, marine mineral and hydrocarbon resources and sediment pollution will be discussed in this session.

We are expecting to your contributions with abstracts or extended full text about your original and recent studies to this internationally qualified congress which continued uninterruptedly with success for 72 years. We are particularly interested in this congress in the participation of young and dynamic researches to meet with the experience scientists and to do collaborative Works together.

Hope to see you in the 73rd Turkish Geological Congress with international participation.

Medical Geology researching the relationship between geological environment / materials and live health is aimed to provide awareness / sensitivity with regard to the future of society on the basis of our country’s geography and geological structure.

In recent years, the irregular / unplanned use of natural materials (rocks, minerals, elements and water) in the habitat with the increasing industrialization causes important health and environmental problems in many regions of our country.

The scientific studies will be presented in geology-medicine-environment axis under Medical Geology session at 73rd Geological Congress of Turkey. For this purpose, we invite the researchers to the 73rd Geological Congress of Turkey to present the oral and poster presentations of the topics covering geological, anthropogenic and socio-economic/political and other (climatic, hydrological, biological) factors affecting the natural/living environment.