Environmental Physics
Environmental Physics, as its name implies, is the application of the principles of physics to problems in the natural environment. Thus, Environmental Physics is intended to deal with environmental issues involved both in population health and in a proper management of the terrestrial ecosystem by means of a decidedly scientific approach.
The application of Physics to the assessment of the environment, both natural and artificial –that is as modified by the human life– is carried on both by direct measures and theoretical-mathematical models. Direct measures are surveys operated with adequate tools of physical agents, as for example electromagnetic fields, radon gas, natural radioactivity, noise, vibrations and so on. The theoretical-mathematical models are also used by assessing data deriving from direct measures as in case of environmental impact analysis, feasibility studies and in general for monitoring, forecast and prevention of environmental risks systems. All that typically happens when, respectively, is necessary to realize new transportation infrastructures or eolic, photovoltaic and waste to energy plants. Even in the field of the international cooperation, with particular reference to the less developed areas of the world, the role of the Environmental Physics is utterly important to plan specific activities and to solve, prevent or simply monitoring many environmental issues involving life of anyone such as desertification, water resources management, fire prevention and polluting materials.
