Exam 3 Flashcards
nonrenewable resources and examples
energy from resources that can be depleted and are not replenished by natural process within human time scale
ex. ore, metallic and nonmetallic minerals, fossil fuels
renewable resources and examples
energy gained from resources that are replenished by natural processes in a relatively short time
wind, biomass, solar, etc.
% breakdown of US energy consumption by source
36% petroleum
32% natural gas
12% renewable
11% coal
8% nuclear
how do we extract non-renewables
surface mining - shallow mining, common
open pit mining - large pits
strip mining - horizontal mining close to surface
mountaintop mining - use of explosives
subsurface mining - below surface, shafts needed
block caving - V-shaped holes blown below so
deposit falls
hydrofracking
hydrofracking
oil and natural gas trapped between compressed layers of shale rock formations
environmental impacts of hydrofracking
Requires enormous volumes of water
Produces hazardous wastewater
Drilling for these wells can cause mini earthquakes
These could cause the release of hazardous wastewater into groundwater
Tap water contaminated, allowed some peoples water to light on fire!
nuclear power
controlled nuclear fission reaction in a reactor
nuclear fuel cycle
Mining the uranium
Processing and enriching the uranium to make fuel
Using it in a reactor
Safely storing the radioactive waste
concerns around nuclear power and how to prevent nuclear meltdown
Low net energy yield
high costs
fear of accidents
long-lived radioactive wastes
role in spread of nuclear weapons technology
sustainable ways to extract non-renewables
mining low grade ores
improve mining technology with biomining (using microorganisms)
recycling
shifting energy
how does solar power work
sunlight hits PV (photovoltaic) cells and produces flow of electrons
solar grazing and benefits
putting sheep in where solar farms are, supports solar and rural economy (being able to support local farms)
feeds sheep while carving a path for the solar panels, shade for sheep
how does wind power work
kinetic energy captured by wind turbines
pros of wind energy
reducing independency on nonrenewable resources
high net energy yield
wind is abundant
geothermal energy
heat stored in soil, underground rocks and fluids in the earth’s mantle
what does it mean to get energy from biomass (pros and cons as well)
Plant materials and agricultural waste that can be burned for fuel
(+): crops growth throughout the world
reducing dependence on oil
easy to store and transport
(-): low net energy yield
lots of land
soil erosion
lots of water
challenges with hydropower
few suitable sites
destruction of habits, displacing individuals with construction of dams
high costs
equipment damage storms and saltwater corrosion
issues surrounding nutrition
malnutrition of vitamins
A - vision
B, C, D, E, calcium
iron - oxygen transportation
iodine - controls glands and metabolism
food desert
geographical area where there is little access to nutritious, fresh food
food security
daily access to enough nutritious food to live healthy lives
organizations trying to prevent food desert
Greater Good Grocery (lower prices)
VINES (volunteers improving neighborhood environments)
main ways we produce food
croplands (rice, soy)
rangelands, pastures, feedlots (meat)
fisheries and aquaculture (fish)
how to increase global food production
irrigation
synthetic fertilizers
synthetic pesticides
difference between industrial and traditional agriculture
industrialized:
machinery/fossil fuel usage
on crop, large farms, profits
excess water
traditional:
energy from sun and human labor
enough for family survival
subsidies
Government payments or tax breaks intended to help farmers stay in business and increase their yields
issues with industrialized farming
high pesticides and fertilizers
large capital
what types of production/consumption have been increasing?
meat
CAFO and its problems
Concentrated (confined) Animal Feeding Operation
animals in cages at farms trying to produce a larger yield
major methane emitter
diseases to become resistant to antibiotics
ways industrialized food production uses increased amounts of energy from fossil fuels?
farm machinery
fishing vessels
pump irrigation
producing synthetic fertilizers and pesticides
process, manufacture, transport of food
issues exacerbated by agriculture
Top soil erosion
waterlogging (raising of water table)
soil salinization (accumulation of salts in the upper soil layers)
desertification (fertile land becomes desert)