Use LEFT and RIGHT arrow keys to navigate between flashcards;
Use UP and DOWN arrow keys to flip the card;
H to show hint;
A reads text to speech;
35 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
|
List the three fossil fuels. Which is considered to be the most environmentally friendly? Why? What argument do the critics have against that claim? |
3 types: Coal, Oil, Natural Gas Most environmental friendly: |
|
|
What is the difference between surface mining and sub-surface mining? Which is more harmful to the environment? |
Surface mining: within 100 ftSub-surface: underground Surface mining is more disruptive to environment- MT top removal is most destructive |
|
|
What are the environmental impacts of extracting coal? Of burning coal? |
Impact of extracting coal: Erosion, increased flooding, acid mine drainage, fire, coal slurryBurning coal: air pollution, ash, acid deposition
|
|
|
Experts generally agree that someday in the not too distant future we will run out of oil. List at least three factors that will impact how soon that day will come. |
Consumption Economics Technological improvements |
|
|
What hazards are associated with transporting oil by pipeline? By ship? By train? |
-Pipeline breaks -offshore oil rigs -train accidents |
|
|
What is the environmental impact of burning oil? |
-every gallon, gas releases 20 lb CO2 -Air, water, soil pollution |
|
|
What was the one positive outcome of the Exxon Valdez accident? |
-Oil Pollution Act of 1990: Liability for damages to resources, money comes from oil tax |
|
|
Where did the largest oil spill in the US occur? The largest spill in the world? |
-Largest in US: BP spill (4/20/10) in Gulf of Mexico -Largest in world: Persian Gulf Oil Spill |
|
|
What is the purpose of the proposed Keystone XL pipeline? What concerns have been raised about this project? |
-Purpose: make oil available for export; Canadian oil from refineries in Midwest to the gulf coast -Concern: pipeline breaks |
|
|
Why did gas stations run out of gasoline in the early 1970s? How was the problem resolved? What steps did the US take to ensure the problem wouldn’t happen again? |
OPEC- gas prices were high.. Began drilling for oil |
|
|
What is hydraulic fracturing (“fracking”)? What steps are involved? What concerns have been raised about the process? |
-fracturing fluid injected into a well to break apart rock and collect natural gas -concerns: groundwater contamination, air quality degradation |
|
|
How is acid rain formed? What are the effects of acid rain on lakes? On forests? On insect-eating birds? On man-made structures? |
..
|
|
|
What is SMCRA? What are the provisions of SMCRA? Why is mountaintop removal not included in SMCRA? What other type of environmental damage is exempt? |
-SMCRA: Surface Mining Control & Reclamation Act -Prohibits mining in sensitive areas -Requires restoration; MT top removal & damaged aquifers are exempt |
|
|
Do dark or light objects heat more quickly? Which cools more quickly? |
-dark objects heat quicker -light objects cool quicker |
|
|
In what direction does heat energy travel, from warm to cool or cool to warm? |
Warm to cool |
|
|
Describe the differences between fission and fusion. Which method is used in a typical nuclear power plant? |
-Fusion: 2 small atoms combined into one large atom of diff element -Fission: Large atoms split into 2 smaller atoms of diff elements -Used in nuclear power plant: Fission |
|
|
What fuel is most often used in the core of a nuclear reactor? |
-Fuel used: uranium -fuel rods form fuel assemblies |
|
|
How does a reactor generate electricity? What are the advantages of creating electricity with nuclear power? What is the biggest drawback? |
Advantages: less fuel needed, no particulates, no acid rain, no climate change risk Drawback: Nuclear accidents- contamination |
|
|
What three options exist for a nuclear facility when it reaches the end of its life? |
1. Storage: guard for 50 - 100 years to “cool” 2. Entombment: Seal building for 1000 years 3. Dismantle: Take apart and transport appropriately Robotics replace workers in “hot” areas |
|
|
What happened at Chernobyl? What were the consequences? |
-explosion & fire of nuclear plant; caused radiation -consequences: people became ill, land is contaminated, unsafe water, meat, fish, fruits & veggies, birth defects |
|
|
The owners of US reactors have two options for storing spent fuel. What are they? |
Storage underwater or in canister |
|
|
What has Russia done with its high level nuclear waste? |
-for 30 yrs, billions of gallons of liquid waste pumped underground & dumped in ocean |
|
|
Artic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) |
wildlife reserve in northeastern Alaska, debate whether to drill oil here |
|
|
Bioremediation |
-use of organisms remove pollutants from contaminated site |
|
|
Bitumen |
hydrocarbon product produced from oil (asphalt) |
|
|
Conduction |
process by which heat energy is transmitted through collisions between neighboring molecules |
|
|
Distillation column |
.. |
|
|
Fukushima Daiichi |
3/11/11, earthquake & tsunami that caused nuclear contamination |
|
|
Quarry |
deep pit which stone or materials are extracted |
|
|
Yucca Mountain |
Chosen 1987 as storage facility for spent nuclear fuel, canceled by Obama in 2009 |
|
|
OPEC |
Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) was founded in 1960 to coordinate the petroleum policies |
|
|
Radiation |
emission of energy as electromagnetic waves or as moving subatomic particles, especially high-energy particles that cause ionization |
|
|
Tar sand |
-combination of clay, sand, water, and bitumen, a heavy black viscous oil -can be mined and processed to extract the oil-rich bitumen, which is then refined into oil. |
|
|
Three Mile Island |
-Most serious accident in US -Human error resulted in 50% meltdown |
|
|
Meltdown |
severe nuclear reactor accident that results in core damage from overheating |
