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esc 1500 > exam 2 > Flashcards

exam 2 Flashcards

1
Q

fossil fuels

A

Combustible deposits in the Earth’s crust composed of the remnants of prehistoric plants from the carboniferous period. carbon rich

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2
Q

coal pros

A

easy to transport, abundant

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3
Q

coal cons

A

non-renewable, most air pollutants(CO2, NOx, SOx, mercury), acid rain, most ecosystem damage

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4
Q

subsurface coal mining

A

Extraction from deep, thick underground deposits. Mineshafts

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5
Q

hazards of subsurface mining

A

coal dust (lung disease), mine collapse and explosions, fires, toxic fumes like carbon monoxide

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6
Q

pros of subsurface coal mining

A

less environmental destruction but releases more toxins

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7
Q

cons of subsurface coal mining

A

more dangerous, more expensive, more human labor, acid mine drainage

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8
Q

acid mine drainage

A

toxins from coal such as sulfur, wash from mines into water. lowers the ph of water.

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9
Q

surface coal mining

A

extracting coal deposits near earths surface by removing soil, subsoil and rock. ex: mountaintop removal and strip mining

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10
Q

overburden

A

removing all rock, dirt, and organic matter to uncover a mineral deposit

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11
Q

mountaintop removal

A

overburden placed in valleys blocking streams. landscape is permanently altered.

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12
Q

bioaccumulation

A

the buildup of a persistent substance in an organism’s body; more exposure means more buildup

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13
Q

biomagnification

A

amt of substance per organism increases with each successive trophic level

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14
Q

what can water contamination from acid mine drainage lead to

A

decreasing biodiversity: leads to bioaccumulation and biomagnification

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15
Q

pros of surface coal mining

A

cheaper, safer, less labor

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16
Q

cons of surface coal mining

A

much more environmental damage

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17
Q

coal processing

A

coal must be washed in streams to isolate coal from other chemicals. creates coal slurry.

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18
Q

byproduct of coal processing

A

coal slurry

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19
Q

Surface Mining Control & Reclamation Act (SMCRA)

A

reclamation of surface mines, permits and inspections required, protection of sensitive lands

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20
Q

acid deposition

A

acid rain

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21
Q

coal ash

A

fine particles leftover from burnt coal containing silica and toxic metals.

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22
Q

what is done with coal ash

A
  1. recycled into concrete or construction fill
  2. buried in hazardous waste landfills
  3. stored in ponds like slurry
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23
Q

clean coal technology

A

Reduces the amount of pollution produced by burning coal. Fewer NOx and SOx, extra processing before combustion. scrubbers remove SOx

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24
Q

T or F: clean coal tech still causes pollution

A

true

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25
Q

petroleum

A

oil composed of hydrocarbon compounds

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26
Q

Reserves

A

the amount of a fuel that is economically feasible to extract from a deposit using current technology

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27
Q

Peak Oil

A

the point at which global oil production is at its maximum rate

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28
Q

oil production 3 steps

A
  1. initial release of pressure forces oil up
  2. water injection
  3. CO2 injection
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29
Q

Petroleum refining

A

separating compounds by boiling point

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30
Q

oil cons

A

CO2 emissions/greenhouse gases, water pollution, acid rain, spills and explosions, habitat loss

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31
Q

natural gas

A

HC compounds, mostly methane

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32
Q

natural gas pros

A

cleanest burning fossil fuel

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33
Q

fracking

A

using controlled explosives and pressurized fluid to force oil/NG from porous rock

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34
Q

natural gas cons

A

expensive and dangerous transport, acid rain but no NOx or SOx, air pollution, CH4 (methane) emissions

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35
Q

tar sands/synfuels

A

Underground sand deposits permeated w/ thick asphalt like oil

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36
Q

tar sand/synfuel cons

A

uses more water, emits more greenhouse gases CO2, habitat destruction, risky extraction and transport, not efficient

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37
Q

what are the 3 synfuels

A

tar sand, oil shale, gas hydrates

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38
Q

What is the current state of Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) technology for use in coal power plants?

A

CCS technology is being implemented on a small scale and is still very costly

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39
Q

How has the burning of fossil fuels affected the global carbon cycle?

A

Less carbon is stored underground

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40
Q

Atom

A

smallest portion of an element that retains its chemical properties

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41
Q

Atomic Number

A

total number of protons, on top

42
Q

Atomic Mass

A

total number of protons and neutrons, on bottom

43
Q

Isotopes

A

Atoms of the same element that have a different number of neutrons

44
Q

Chemical Reaction

A
  1. mass of start and end products are equal
  2. mass isn’t converted to energy
  3. elements remain unchanged
  4. energy comes from released chem bonds between atoms
45
Q

nuclear reaction

A
  1. mass of end product is slightly less than start
  2. small amt of matter converted to huge amt of energy
  3. atoms of one element change into another
  4. energy released comes from conversion of matter to energy
46
Q

nuclear fission

A

splitting an atom’s nucleus

47
Q

nuclear fusion

A

joining 2 atoms nuclei

48
Q

nuclear fission steps

A
  1. fast moving neutron hits nucleus and splits it
  2. releases 3 fast moving neutrons and heat
  3. domino effect
49
Q

how is a nuclear fission domino effect stopped

A

control rods absorb neutrons. takes place in a containment building.

50
Q

Radioisotope

A

isotope that spontaneously emits radiation.

51
Q

Radiation

A

energy consisting of alpha & beta particles and gamma rays

52
Q

Radioactive decay

A

the emission of particles from unstable atomic nuclei

53
Q

what is the fissionable isotope in uranium ore

A

U-235 (1% of ore)

54
Q

uranium milling

A

Ore is crushed & mixed with acidic or alkaline solutions to separate out the uranium

55
Q

uranium enrichment

A

the process by which uranium fuel is refined to increase the concentration of U-235

56
Q

uranium fuel production

A

packaging enriched uranium fuel into pellets

57
Q

what powers fission reactions in nuclear power plants

A

U-235

58
Q

what happens after the fission reaction in a nuclear power plant is triggered

A

fission reactions generate heat to turn water into steam to generate electricity. river/ocean water is used as a coolant to condense steam back into water.

59
Q

low level radioactive waste (LLRW)

A

can be safely buried. Nuclear power plant clothes & tools, nuclear medicine, research labs. 3 storage sites in US.

60
Q

high level radioactive waste (HLRW)

A

Spent fuel rods & assemblies, reactor water, or nuclear weapons waste that is still highly radioactive. stored onsite at power plant. 100,000 years of storage.

61
Q

Vitrification

A

solidifying high-level liquid waste (like reactor water) into solid glass or ceramic logs

62
Q

Temporary storage solutions in NPPs

A

Under water storage (indoor pools)
Above ground concrete & steel casks (dry cask)

63
Q

what is done when NNPs are shut down

A

they can’t be abandoned, must be decommissioned

64
Q

nuclear energy pros

A

carbon free, no direct air pollutants, equally productive at all times, energy rich, reserves last a long time

65
Q

nuclear energy pro/con

A

spent fuel can be recycled into plutonium but US doesn’t recycle bc it can be used for weapons

66
Q

nuclear energy cons

A

meltdowns are rare but dangerous, spread of radiation after meltdowns is large and unpredictable, health effects like cancer and deformities, no long term storage plan, mining and processing degrade envt

67
Q

3 big nuclear accidents

A

chernobyl, 3 mile island, fukushima

68
Q

Spent fuel is

A

radioactive waste generated by nuclear energy production

69
Q

Renewable Energy

A

E from renewable sources that are replenished over short time scales or that are perpetually available

70
Q

Sustainable Energy

A

E sources that have a low environmental impact

71
Q

Passive solar heating

A

A system that harvests the sun’s energy without using mechanical devices to distribute heat
ex: solar cookers, double paned glass in houses

72
Q

Active Solar Heating

A

A system that harvests the sun’s energy and uses pumps or fans to distribute the collected heat. typically used to heat water. ex: solar panels

73
Q

Solar Thermal Electric Generation

A

A system that uses mirrors or lenses to concentrate the sun’s energy onto a fluid/panel that is used to generate electricity
ex:solar power towers

74
Q

Photovoltaics (PV)

A

Method of converting sunlight directly into electricity using materials that readily give up electrons. no turbine used

75
Q

Solar/PV Cells

A

thin film treated with metals so that it generates electricity when it absorbs solar E.
ex: solar panels

76
Q

Biomass

A

Chemical E stored in the form of organic matter. oldest fuel. ex: wood, biogas digester

77
Q

solar energy pros

A

reduces FF dependence and cost competitive with other energy sources

78
Q

solar energy cons

A

availability varies with time of day and season

79
Q

biomass pros

A

reduced FF dependence, can use waste, burns cleaner than FFs

80
Q

biomass cons

A

air pollution, land and water use, currently using biomass faster
than regeneration time

81
Q

Wind Energy

A

Electric energy obtained from winds caused by solar heating of the air. indirect solar energy

82
Q

how do wind turbines work

A

wind turns blades, spinning powers generator, and electricity sent to cables

83
Q

Wind Pros

A

no air pollutants, reduced FF dependence, cost competitive

84
Q

wind energy cons

A

strongest winds are in remote areas, kills birds and bats, nimby

85
Q

Hydropower

A

electric energy obtained from flowing or falling water. dams

86
Q

Hydropower Process

A

water flows and spins the turbine connected to generator

87
Q

hydropower pros

A

no air pollutants, reduced FF dependence, flood control, irrigation, navigation

88
Q

hydropower cons

A

ecological disruption in stream and reservoir, possible seismicity, Evaporation & salinity, soil infertility, Electricity production declines as sediment builds up, displacement, cultural loss, water borne diseases, methane from dead plants

89
Q

what devices help fish move up dams and avoid turbines

A

fish ladders and bypass systems

90
Q

Wave power

A

Electricity obtained from the movement of ocean waves. indirect solar energy

91
Q

Ocean thermal energy conversion
(OTEC)

A

Using ocean temperature gradients to produce electricity or cool buildings. indirect solar energy

92
Q

In the United States, solar radiation is greatest in:

A

southwest

93
Q

Tidal Energy

A

uses flow of tides to generate electricity.A large difference between Hi & Lo tide is required to generate electricity.

94
Q

tidal energy process

A

energy from moving water during the tide going in spins a turbine and generates electricity

95
Q

tidal energy pros

A

no air pollutants, reduced ff dependence, predictable

96
Q

tidal energy cons

A

species migrations, erosion, storm damage, nimby, intermittent electricity gen.

97
Q

Geothermal Energy

A

Heat stored underground, contained in either rocks or fluids

98
Q

geothermal energy process

A

hot fluid is pumped and generates steam, steam spins turbine and is then cooled and condensed

99
Q

geothermal energy pros

A

no CO2, reduced FF dependence

100
Q

geothermal energy cons

A

H2S emissions, water depletion, sinkholes, limited to areas with recent volcanism

101
Q

Geothermal heat pumps

A

use temp difference between surface and subsurface to heat and cool buildings. epa approved but expensive

102
Q

Energy Services Companies

A

set up contracts with companies to find ways for companies to save energy and money. money saved is used to repay them.

esc 1500 (4 decks)

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