Energy Resources Flashcards
How can the environmental impacts of hydraulic fracturing be reduced?
Don’t frac in:
ecologically sensitive areas such as sssi’s
Not near aquifers or water sources
Seismic monitoring should constant
Name two nuclear power disasters
Fukushima-Japan 2011 and Chernobyl Ukraine 1986
What is nuclear fission?
The only commercially viable form of nuclear power.
Nuclear fission involves the splitting of the nuclei of large atoms, typically with plutonium or uranium.
What is nuclear fusion?
Not yet commercially viable
Involves the joining of the nuclei of small atoms such as hydrogen isotopes.
What is the difference in energy density between uranium and coal?
1kg or uranium fuel can release as much energy as 13 tonnes of coal.
What energy supply is nuclear power usually used for?
The base load. (The electricity supply which is required constantly).
Describe the features of deep mining
Deep mining is labour intensive so is expensive to produce large coal quantities.
Environmental damage caused is predominantly at the surface due to habitat loss.
Describe the features of open cast mining
Mechanised and more economically viable than deep mining.
Involves removing all the rock between the coal and the surface.
Is much more damaging to habitat.
How were fossil fuels formed?
The fossilisation of dead organic matter under anaerobic conditions beneath layers of sediments that were deposited on the earths surface or seabed
Name two new technologies for coal
Coal gasification or liquefaction
Fracking involves hydraulic fracturing of what rock type?
Shale rock
Outline one method of extracting tar sands oil
Sands quarried using large excavators
Describe how choosing high thermal mass materials for buildings interior can reduce the environmental impacts of heating houses.
High thermal mass materials-using materials that can absorb heat in high temps or emit heat to reduce the need for central heating
Name three ways in which we can make building design more energy efficient
Low building surface area, south facing rooms that need to be warm, (northern hemisphere), high thermal mass materials to absorb heat in high temps and emit it at low.
Name 3 alternative materials to concrete that are more energy efficient
Limecrete, (embodied energy of concrete is roughly double that of limecrete).
Lime mortar
Rammed earth
