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67 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
Will we run out of energy?
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Literal: we can never run-out
*But there can be shortages |
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Consequences of 1973/74 Oil Embargo
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*Fall:shortage of gasoline
*Oil producing countries refused to provide use with oil *price of gas increased from $0.40 to $0.50 (for 2-3 months) *speed limit 55 miles per hour |
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Increasing U.S. Energy Consumption
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As population increases - we consume more
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How to promote energy efficiency
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Through the Federal Government: taxes; legislation (laws); economic policies/social polices; fund mass transportation
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Where does our energy come from?
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*82% from burning fossil fuels
*40% from oil use *25% from natural gas *22% from coal *87% dependent on a non-renewable resource 6% Hydroelectric 8% Nuclear |
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Fossil Fuel: Coal
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It is a hyrdrocarbon = 1hydrogen/1carbon
-wet scrubbers |
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Fossil Fuel: Natural Gas
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4 hydrogen/ 1 carbon
*most energy rich |
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Fossil Fuel: Oil
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*most versitile (can be used for various things)
*1 carbon atom for every 2 hyrdrogen atoms *we use 25% of the worlds oil *within the next 80years we will run out of affordable oil *Oil Depletion(non-renewable) *we extract oil - we do NOT produce oil *most oil exists under other countries rather than in US >oil produces: plastics, rubbers, paints, adhesive, and nylon |
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Consequences of Heavy Dependence on Fossil Fuels |
Peak Oil: when oil reaches its max
-when 1/2 of existing oil is used and then it goes into decline |
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Major U.S. Sources of CO2:
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1)Electric Power Plants
2)Residential Use 3)Transportation 4)Industry |
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*
Abiotic Effects of Greenhouse Gases: |
1)Warmer Atmosphere
2)Temperature Increase not Uniform 3)Changes to Hydrological Cycle 4)Sea Level Rise 5)Change in pH of Seawater |
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(Greenhouse) Effects on Biota: Effects of Global Change on Plants
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*the most directly effected
*we are dependent upon them *negative feedback - more CO2 in environment which plants like |
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(Greenhouse)Effects on Biota: Effects on Whole Ecosystems
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a)Today's Climate change is different -
b)changes affect every aspect of life from metabolic rates to whole ecosystems 1)correlation b/w temp and respirations rates 2)tundra changing from CO2 sink to source of CO2 3)shifts range - as the environment gets warmer the plants move north |
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(Greenhouse) Potential Effects on Wildlife
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a)Bird Migration - warmer at higher altitudes; food sources available before birds reach destination
b)Coastal and Marsh Organisms c)Physiological Responses - change sex ratios in reptiles; sex is dependent on temperature d)aquatic organisms - most stressed b/c as water warms less oxygen for the organism |
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(Greenhouse)Evidence of Change
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*Ice/Glaciers are disappearing
*Glacier Park had over 150 Glaciers now only have a few dozen |
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*(Greenhouse) Organisms that benefit
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x
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(Greenhouse) Effects on Biodiversity
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*Endangered species at high risk
*Alpine Mountain Species - more at risk b/c their climate will not be available |
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(Greenhouse) Effects of Global Change on Humans
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1.)Food Supply -
2.)On Health - Tropical Diseases; suppression of immune system |
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(Greenhouse) Validity of Predictions
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1) Research in lab
2)Computer Modeling - problem: too large scale can't consider all vairables in natural world; only models simplified world 3)Check Fossil Records - problem: today global warming is occuring faster |
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*(Greenhouse) Energy What's next?
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x
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What are alternative natural energy sources?
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1)Biomass
2)Tides 3)Hydroelectric Power 4)Geothermal Energy 5)Wind Power 6)Solar Energy 7)Managing Increasing Levels of CO2 |
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What is Biomass? What are it's sources?
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Def.: once living material; plant & animal waste; organic waste from agriculture
Sources: garbage, sewage, manure, wood; Methane -compost |
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(alternative natural energy sources) Tides
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*used mostly in France and coming to NY
*Advantages:cheap(no charge); non-polluting (does not create CO2 like fossil fuels) *Disadvantages: tides change throughout day |
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(alternative natural energy sources) Hydroelectric Power
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*where 5-6% of energy comes from
*Advantages: cheap; non-polluting *Disadvantages: lose water for fishing; expensive to build damns; eventually dams fill with silt; flood lands behind dam |
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(alternative natural energy sources) Geothermal Energy
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*First Geothermal Plant was in Italy (1904)
*less than 1% of energy *Worlds 3rd largest in California *Advantages: *Disadvantages:does not exist in many places; could cause minor earthquakes or the land to sink |
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(alternative natural energy sources) Wind Power
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*Windmills Generate electricity; located in West;
*Advantages: Non-polluting *Disadvantae: cannot be every b/c wind is not strong enough everywhere;more expensive than burning coal; wind isnt constantly blowing |
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(alternative natural energy sources) Solar Energy
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*Heats space/water
*generates electricity *Advantages: clean *Disadvantages: sun is not always up |
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(alternative natural energy sources) How we use Solar Energy to generate electricty
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1)Solar Furnace/Power Tower - boils water/creates steam/moves turbine
2)Solar Cells/Photovoltaic Cells - generates volts of energy; most useful for satelites in space *advantages:can be located anywhere energy is needed; safe (dont heat up);non-polluting *disadvantages: doesnt produce much energy (each cell produces 1/2 bolt of energy |
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(Managing Increasing Levels of CO2) Carbon Sequestation
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a)Def.:collect CO2 before it is vented into atmosphere and put it in the ground
b)technologies: 1)geologic - old oil and gas reserves; deep salt mines 2)vegetation/soils - deforestation 3)oceans: engineering the earth - the "Geritol Effect" - put iron int he water - grows more algae in water - sucks up CO2 |
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What are isotopes?
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Forms on an element that have different atomic weights due to different numbers of neutrons in their nucleus
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Stable Isotopes
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12C is the lighter, non-radioactive form of carbon
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Unstable Isotopes
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14C is the heavier, radioactive form of carbon
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Half-Life
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the time it takes for 50% of an isotope to spontaneously disintegrate (break-up)
*Do not use plutonium anymore *Use Uranium |
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Nuclear Energy: Chain Reaction
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235U(uranium) + n(neutron) >[breaks apart into]> Fission Products +3n + Energy - (Heat/Light)
*if controlled:creates energy *if not: Explosion |
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The Nuclear Cycle
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1)Mining radioactive material - dangerous;mines filled w/Radon
2)Processing Uranium - left w/Radioactive mines 3)Concentrating 235U - takes enormous amounts of energy 4)Generating energy in Nuclear Power Plants - chain reactions occur;fuel rods 5)Disposal of radioactive waste - orignally dumped in ocean;now buried in land 6)Decommissioning nuclear power plants |
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Nuclear Energy: Problems of Safety
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*Radioactivity
*Explosion *The Price-Anderson Act: limited insurance liablity to max of $600 million extened to $7 billion. |
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Nuclear Energy: Problems of Pollution
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1)Thermal Pollution: all powerplants are by large bodies of water to attempt to keep plantcool - dispenses warm water back into water source
2)Radiation as a Health Problem: cancer; cateracts; sterility |
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Nuclear Energry: Social Issues Assoicated W/ Nuclear Power
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1)Terrorism, sabotage and proliferation of nuclear weapons
2)Human Error - mentally disabled a)Three Mile Island Facility in Pennsylvania b)Chernobyl Facility in Kiev |
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Nuclear Energy: the Future of Nuclear Energy
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70,000tons of Nuclear wast w/ no place to go
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Chesapeake Bay: What is an Estuary?
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body of water that has to inputs/sources of water 1)offland (freshwater) 2)off tide (salt water) - sea/ocean
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Chesapeake Bay: What is a watershed?
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drain basin; all of the watershed from watershed ends up in the Bay;
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Chesapeake Bay: Biological Wealth
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rich with large amounts of Oysters; Spawning ground for fish
*Strip Bass/Rockfish (MD state fish) *Great Blue Herons; Geese; Swans; Duck |
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Chesapeake Bay: Ecological Value of Oysters
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*Clean & Clear Water;
*Once there were so many oysters the whole bay could be filtered *Now -Less oysters more algae(cloud water); sun nutrients can't enter water |
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Chesapeake Bay: Human Population
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16million of population live in watershed
*causes increased amount of sediment |
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Chesapeake Bay: Results of Six Year EPA (Environmental Protection Agency)
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1)increase in nutrients
2)increase in Toxins 3)increase in sediments |
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Chesapeake Bay: Sources of Nutrients
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*Fertilizer
*Sewage Treatments *people *cattle (other domestic animals) |
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Chesapeake Bay: Toxics
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*Soy bean field;
*Industry |
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Chesapeake Bay: Sediments
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*erosion
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Mono Lake: Water Chemistry
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*A Triple Water Lake (Salty - Soda - Sulfurous)
1)Saline - lots of sats, NaCl 2)Alkaline - carbonate, CO3 3)Sulfate - Sulfurous |
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Mono Lake: Calcium plus Carbonate Forms Tufa (CaCO3)
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Formed when calcium rich water bubbles into carbonate rich water
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Mono Lake: Biology of lake
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*not many organisms can live there (too salty for fish)
a)algae - bottom of food chain b)Brine Shrimp - unique to lake; sold to aquariums c)Brine Flies - harmless; walk underwater; lay eggs underwater d)the Kuzedika people - Fly larva eaters dried and ate larva |
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Mono Lake: Importance to Birds
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Vital stop for birds to breed/ eat
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Mono Lake: The Killing of Owens Lake
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*Now a giant salt ground
*water was sent from lake down hill to Los Angeles |
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Mono Lake: What was planned next for Mono Lake?
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*Planned to do the same as with Owens Lake
*Built aquaduct to bring water to Los Angeles *Transferred water from creek that flowed to Mono Lake |
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Mono Lake: Implications of Water Diversion
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Tufa became exposed; expanding band of salt
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Mono Lake: 1961 - Student Studies Lake
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*decline of water; lake will become too salty
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Mono Lake: 1974 - Other Student
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no training or funding or encouragement
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Mono Lake: 1974 - Other Student - ASSIGNMENT
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locate/analyze environmental destruction
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Mono Lake: 1974 - Other Student - PUBLIC TRUST DOCTRINE
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*Roman Law; written in Latin
*Submerged lands (marshes etc.) have to be administered for public trust; for appropriate uses |
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Mono Lake: 1974 - Other Student - STUDENTS FORM "MONO LAKE COMMITTEE"
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aimed to end water diversion from Mono lake
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Mono Lake: 1974 - Other Student - THEIR ADVISARY
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the DWP (Los Angeles Department of Water and Power)
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Mono Lake: 1974 - Other Student - CRITICAL DECISION BY THE COMMITTEE
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*put themselves into the shoes of DWP
*Answer how could LA replace water if they lost Mono Lake |
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Mono Lake: 1974 - Other Student - 2 NEW SOURCE OF WATER FOR LA
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1) conservation (water marketing)
2)Reclamation - b/c of clean water act |
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Mono Lake: 1974 - Other Student - COURT BATTLE ENDS
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1994 Agreement to Reclamation
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Mono Lake: Other Student - LESSONS TO BE LEARNED
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*15years: conflict should be setteled by more than a test of strength
*You're never stuck with your mistakes *Know how to make your point |
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The Essence of Our Problems
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*Everything we do has consequences
*small and constant assaults that everyone(6 billion) take upon Earth *Industrial Production has increased 50 fold in last 100 years |
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Our Alternatives to our Problems
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*Laws/legislation
*Living Sustainable: a)stabilizing human population b)protecting cropland c)reforestation d)conserving energy |