exam 4 energy resources Flashcards
What are fossil fuels? Why are they called “fossil” fuels?
fuels formed from the remains of ancient life
What is coal made from?
The remains of ancient plants, usually swamps
What is petroleum (oil & natural gas) made from?
the remains of ancient, marine organisms, usually algae and zooplankton
What percent of our total energy use do we get from fossil fuels?
80%
What are hydrocarbons?
Heat and pressure transform the carbohydrates, which break down into hyrocarbons
What is a petroleum “trap”?
A geological system that contains and prevents the migration of oil and natural gas
folds (pertroleum trap)
rock layers that are bent upward will trap oil and natural gas in the top of that fold.
Fault traps (pertroleum trap)
impermeable boundaries created by at least one fault. Fault – fold combinations are common
Stratigraphic trap (pertroleum trap)
tilted rocks that are capped by impermeable layers can create traps.
Salt “dome” traps (pertroleum trap)
When oil-bearing layers are warped upward, they can create traps along side of the salt domes.
What is a “blowout”
inadvertent release of oil or natural gas from a well.
What is the infamous blowout that occurred in the gulf coast in 2010?
Deepwater Horizon blowout
What is the environmental concern about oil pipelines?
-Leaks may not be detected for days-weeks.
-Contaminate soil, groundwater, and surface water
What are the byproducts produced from burning hydrocarbons?
CO2 and H2O
Why is CO2 a big concern?
o Why is ozone a big concern (in the lower atmosphere)?
CO2 is a major greenhouse gas, an contributes to climate change
ozone combines with particulates in the air to form smog.
What kinds of environments do coal layers start out as?
o How do they get transformed from plant material into coal?
-Developes in stagnant, oxygen poor environments like swamps, marshes and bogs.
-When these areas get buried by sediment, they get compressed and form coal.
How is coal mined?
* What is most of the coal mined in the US used for?
-mined from both surface and undergrounds mines
aswell as mountain top mining
-Most US. Coal goes to producing electricity
How does a coal-fired power plant produce electricity?
-coal is burned
-heat makes steam
-steam turns turbines
-turning produces energy
What are the environmental concerns with coal?
o Specifically with the mining process?
o With burning coal?
-Major contributor of anthropogenic (human made) CO2 emissions in the atmosphere
-Sulfur dioxide released into the air can produce air pollution and acid rain.
What is “biomass”?
o What are the ways it can be used to generate power?
-a broad term for all organic debris from plants and animals
-burned garbage, ethonal, methane/cow power
How do geothermal energy plants produce electricity?
If the crust is hot enough, it can be used to generate steam, which turns turbines to produce electricity in geothermal power plants.
How do hydroelectric plants/dams produce electricity?
The water is released and moves through turbines that generate electricity
How do wind turbines generate electricity?
Windmills use wind power to spin turbines that generate electricity.
How can we use solar energy to produce electricity?
-Photovoltaic cells
-mirrors
