lecture 9 - technological hazards Flashcards

1
Q

example of a technological hazards being a hybrid disaster

A

an earthquake that causes an oil spill from a pipeline

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2
Q

example of technological disaster involving the environment

A

the sinking of the titanic and explosion of the challenger space shuttle

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3
Q

vulnerability to technological hazards

A

death toll is low

vulnerability is greatest for those involved in specific industries or transportation systems

workers in resource industries in hinterlands are at higher risk (miners)

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4
Q

categories of technological hazards

A

widespread; long term (hazard that lead to cumulative effects)

rare events: airplane crashes, mine collapses, shipwrecks

relatively common; automobile accidents, poisons

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5
Q

cumulative effects of technological hazards

A

conditions that worsen slowly over time as exposure to a concentration

concentration reaches a threshold critical to human health

hazards that cumulative effects include exposure to radiation, toxic chemical, acid precipitation and groundwater contamination

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6
Q

calculating risk of infrastructure, transportation and industry

A

infrastructure (bridges, dams, pipelines); risk is defined as the probability of failure during the lifetime of the structure

transportation (by road, sea, rail); risk is the probability of death or injury per km travelled

industry (manufacturing, energy production); risk is probability of death or injury per person per numbers of hours exposed

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7
Q

what is radon?

A

primary source of radon GAS is from natural decay or uranium in rock and soil

becomes a hazard when released

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8
Q

what happens when radon gas is inhaled?

A

when inhaled it decays to polonium and lodges in the lungs where it damages tissues

2nd leading cause of lung cancer in North America

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9
Q

why is radon difficult to detect?

A

difficult to detect because its odourless, colourless and tasteless

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10
Q

how does radon move?

A

can move quickly through non saturated soil and seep into homes, basements are at higher risk in winter due to reduced air circulation

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11
Q

genetically modified organisms

A

have had changes made to their DNA by transfer of genes

crops are modified to increase yields

some of the crops have been genetically engineered to have greater resistance to: extreme change in temp or precipitation, herbicides, pests and acidic soil

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12
Q

most common genetically modified organisms

A

corn, soybeans, canola and wheat

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13
Q

examples of feats in genetic modifications

A

chickens that lay low cholesterol eggs

tomatoes that reduce risk of cancer

bananas & potatoes to treat viral disease in developing countries

rice that contains more vitamin A

bacteria that can clean up oil and toxic spills

citrus trees producing fruit in their first year (when take 6)

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14
Q

how safe are genetically modified foods?

A

benefits outweigh the risks

great benefits in developing countries

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15
Q

impacts of radiation

A

can be direct (effects seen within days of exposure) or delayed and chronic (cancer)

can be indirect in the form of genetic effects

example: person may not experience effects but pass them onto their children in the form of birth defects

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16
Q

2 potential sources of radiation

A

mining of uranium; produce wastes know as tailing that can be a radioactive hazard

production of electricity; uranium is used in nuclear power plants

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17
Q

nuclear power plants

A

most in North American are in the eastern half of the continent

must be near water source aka coolant

must be located near a market for electricity

considered a clean source on energy because does not emit greenhouse gases that cause climate change

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18
Q

nuclear accidents

A

nuclear meltdown is an informal term for an accident that results in damage from overheating

occurs when heat is generated by nuclear plant exceeds the heat removed by its cooling systems

in meltdown, fuel rods turn liquid and the wall of the plant could melt from extreme heat

hot liquid could melt through the bottom of the plant and seep into the soil

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19
Q

three mile island nuclear accident

A

the worst nuclear disaster in the U.S. in 1979

one of the two power plants on the island that experienced in a partial meltdown

caused by failure of a valve that controlled cool water entering the plant

no direct injuries but minor amount of radiation released and plant closed

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20
Q

chernobyl nuclear accident

A

nuclear disaster occurred in 1986

the accident was result of a flawed design, operator error and disregard of safety regulations

killed 3 workers due to radiation exposure, thousands developed thyroid cancer

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21
Q

nuclear energy

A

over 3 mile island and chernobyl slowed nuclear development for a time

concern over greenhouse gas has created high demand for cleaner sources of energy

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22
Q

when did he last coal plant in Ontario close?

A

2014

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23
Q

titanic shipwreck

A

hit an iceberg in 1912

wreckage was found by SONAR in 1985

the carpathia arrived at 4:10 and picked up survivors

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24
Q

oil spill impacts

A

most common in water but occur on land due to pipeline bursts

clean up can take months to years

oil penetrates bird feathers and mammal fur reducing the ability to insulate

birds and animals left vulnerable to changes and become less buoyant in water

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25
Q

exxon valdez oil spill

A

caused by an oil tanker ship striking a rocky reef of the coast of Alaska (1989)

region is important habitat for salmon, seals, sea otters, killer whales and seabirds

75 mil L of oil spilled; the remote location made recovery efforts difficult

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26
Q

deepwater horizon oil spill

A

caused by an oil rig that exploded in mexico (2010)

killed 11 workers caused by methane rising upward through drill pipe

approx 11 mil L oil leaked from well, well was capped with cement in 2010

caused extensive damage to wetlands and beaches

27
Q

deepwater horizon oil spill; report found that the company

A

made a series of coast cutting choices on maintenance

did not have proper system in place to ensure safety

28
Q

groundwater material are permeable because..

A

they have connected spaces that allow water to flow through

29
Q

groundwater contamination

A

in 2000, water contamination killed 7 in ON

bacteria came from fertilizer manure that had leached into a well during heavy rainfall

30
Q

minneapolis bridge collapse

A

cause was deemed to be excessive weight from vehicles and construction equipment

bridge supports were not proper thickness and an extra 2 inches of concrete that was added to roadway contributed to the collapse

31
Q

tacoma narrows bridge collapse

A

1940, high winds caused the collapse of a suspension bridge in washington

there were no human deaths

design of bridge did not provide any open trusses for wind to pass through

32
Q

2 major space shuttle explosions

A

2 major ones included the challenger and Columbia

33
Q

the challenger shuttle explosion

A

associated with a rubber O ring seal

it fail to seal a joint leading to the release of hot gas that led to failure of the rocket booster

the night before the launch was cold; frost and ice had developed on the rocket

cold weather reduced the elasticity of the O ring preventing it from properly sealing the joint

34
Q

the Columbia shuttle explosion

A

disintegrated in 2003, upon re-entry into earths atmosphere after 16 days in space

during launch insulation broke off from the external tank

it struck the left wing and damaged the system that protects the wings from intense heat produced by atmospheric gases upon re-entry

pieces of the shuttle were found in texas and lousiana

35
Q

how was the solar system formed

A

a cloud of gas and dust in space was disturbed by a supernova

4.6 million years ago

36
Q

the nebular hypothesis

A

the supernove explosion made waves in space

caused the formation of a solar nebula (flattened cloud of gas and dust)

37
Q

formation of planets

A

centre of the solar nebula grew hotter resulting in the formation of the sun

the outer edges cooled causing clumps of particles to stick together and form planets

38
Q

2 components of outer space

A

galaxy; cluster of stars. our solar system makes up a tiny portion of the milky way galaxy

star; a hot glowing ball of gas that generates energy by converting hydrogen to helium

39
Q

the milky way galaxy

A

it takes light 100,000 years to travel from one side of the galaxy to another

sun is location approx 30 quintillion km from the centre of the milky way

40
Q

the sun

A

outermost part of the sun = photosphere

energy from sun controls the earths climate system

sun is so large that the earth only receives two billionths of the suns total energy

41
Q

the solar system

A

composed of 8 planets, 214 moons and millions of bolides

order: mercury, venus, earth, mars, Jupiter, saturn, uranus, neptune

42
Q

life cycle of stars

A

closest star to earth; has a life expectancy of 10 billion years

end of the life cycle of a star a massive amount of energy is released in an explosion (supernova)

43
Q

what is a bolide?

A

a extraterrestrial body that originates in outer space

example; asteroid (rocky metallic, 10m to 1000km in diameter originating in asteroid belt btwn mars and jupiter) and metroid (similar composition but only 10m in diameter)

44
Q

3 bolides

A

meteor: a Metroid that has entered the earths atmosphere

meteorite: a meteor that strikes the earths surface

comet: distinguished by large glowing tail of gas and dust

45
Q

where do comets originate from?

A

area outside of the solar system called the Kuiper Belt

46
Q

comets

A

comets create light as gases are released while the comet is heated by solar radiation

halley’s comet is most famous due to its visibility with the naked eye and passes close to earth every 75 years

47
Q

airbursts

A

bolides travel at velocities of 12-72 km/s

as they heat upon entering earths atmosphere they produce bright light

many bolides explode at an altitude between 12km and 50km; explosion is referred to as a airburst

48
Q

Tunguska airburst

A

1908: destroyed over 2000km of forest in sparsely populated area in Russia

determined it was an airburst due to no crater has ever been found

The meteor is responsible 25-50m in diameter

49
Q

chelyabinsk airburst

A

2013: meteor exploded in russia creating a shockwave

largest bolide to enter earths atmosphere since Tunguska

over 1500 people where injured due to broken glass

50
Q

impact craters

A

provide evidence of past meteorite impacts

layer of debris around a crater called an ejecta blanket (breccia) consists of rock fragments that were blown out of the crater upon impact

not as deep due to rock falling back into it

this rock is refereed to as breccia

51
Q

simple vs complex impact craters

A

simple: less than few km is diameter and do not have an uplifted centre

complex: rim that collapses and a centre floor that slowly rises following impact (rebound) greater then 6km in diameter

52
Q

Manicouagan crater

A

100km in diameter (one of the largest)

in central quebec formed 214 mil years ago

rim collapsed and rock eroded to form a ring shaped lake

53
Q

Chesapeake crater

A

crater was not discovered until subsurface imaging and drilling revealed its presence off coast of virgina

crater formed 35.5 mil years ago

since then it has been overlain by sediment and seawater as seas levels have risen

54
Q

why are craters much more common on the moon than in earth?

A

most impacts with earth are on oceans thus no crater can be produced

impacts with earths land have been eroded or buried and therefore have more subtle features than moon craters

smaller bolides often burn up and disintegerate in earths atmosphere before striking its surface

55
Q

shoemaker-levy comet

A

comet jupiters atmosphere in 1994

massive amounts of energy were released, and gas plumes were produced as 21 fragments of the comet collided with jupiter

after this impact, one could strike the earth one day

56
Q

mass extinctions

A

extinctions coincide with boundaries of geologic period of the geologic time scale

consistent with abrupt changes in climate from volcanism, bolides, or human impacts

5 major extinctions

57
Q

K-T boundary mass extinction

A

occurred from abrupt cooling caused by a bolide impact

it is named for the boundary separating the cretaceous and tertiary period

caused the extinction of dinosaurs and 70% of all plant and animal species at that time

58
Q

K-T boundary crater

A

1991: 180km in diameter underlying sediment and seawater

located in mexico and refered to as chicxulub crater

59
Q

how was the extinction determined to be from a bolide impact?

A

found large quantities of iridium in rock that is found in bolides (first clue)

no crater had been found

60
Q

linkage with other hazards

A

bolide impacts can trigger tsunamis, earthquakes, landslide and cause climate change

61
Q
A
62
Q

risk from bolide impacts

A

if bolide remains in the asteroid belt it poses no hazard to earth

orbital path of bolide could be disturbed by collision with another object

1100 bolides larger then 1km near earths orbit

63
Q

managing the bolide impact hazard

A

can detect in decades in advance

blowing it up would cause fragments to rain down and is not advisable

pushing a bolide off course by ramming it with a spacecraft impacted the asteroid dimorphos