Environmental Science study guide #8

Nonrenewable Energy

Energy resources that do not replenish.

Coal Seam

A layer of rock that contains coal.

Black Lung Disease

Disease caused by the buildup of coal dust in the lungs over time.

Gas Flare

A burn off of a natural gas deposit.

Hydraulic Fracturing

Extraction of natural gas from a shale deposit through the injection of fracking fluid underground.

Fracking Fluid

A mixture of water, chemicals, and sand used in hydraulic fracturing.

Ash Storage Pond

Lined pits used to store coal ash mixed with water.

Three nonrenewable fossil fuels

Coal, Natural Gas, & Oil.

1. Most of the coal deposits on Earth today formed during the Carboniferous period. Describe how the Earth's atmosphere and landmasses were different during this time period.

2. Why did these conditions eventually lead to an intense glacial period?

1. Much of the landmass was around the equator, creating a highly habitable environment for fern trees. The trees generated a lot of oxygen and removed a lot of carbon dioxide.

2. They weakened the greenhouse effect. (CO2 is a greenhouse gas).

1. What organism or organic matter gave rise to coal?

2. What kind of ecosystems were ideal for the formation of this material millions of years ago?

1. Fern trees.

2. Swamps, especially warm ones closer to the equator.

1. What organism or organic matter gave rise to petroleum?

2. What kind of ecosystems were ideal for the formation of this material millions of years ago?

1. Marine snow - detritus, waste, and other organic material that falls down from the upper layers of water.

2. Warm shallow sea ecosystems.

Open Pit Mining

Large holes in the ground.

Strip Mining

Strips or rows of soil are carved away to access coal seams underneath.

Mountaintop Removal

Explosives used to blow up the top of a mountain.

Subsurface Mining

A shaft is dug to access a deep underground coal seam.

What substances are released into water in acid mine drainage?

Sulfuric acid, heavy metals (iron, nickel, cadmium, etc).

Explain why the environmental damage caused by an oil spill is so much greater than if something similar happened to coal

Oil is a liquid, so it can spread much more quickly and move underground and through waterways.

Why is natural gas often burned off in a gas flare instead of collected?

As a gas, it is very difficult to collect, store, and transport. Many oil drillers will simply burn it off to prevent an explosion.

How does hydraulic fracturing release natural gas from shale deposits?

The injection of the hydraulic fluid causes the shale to from many tiny cracks (fractures). When these fractures are filled with sand, the gas can seep out freely.

What part of the United States contains the Marcellus Shale rock formation?

Around the Appalachian mountains - From New York through Ohio, Pennsylvania, and into Virginia, West Virginia, and Kentucky.

Why is hydraulic fracturing such a controversial process? What are two potential environmental side effects of it?

Fracking uses a lot of water - millions of gallons per well. The water that is used is mixed with fracking chemicals, essentially making it a form of hazardous waste. In some cases, this waste has found its way into nearby waterways.

Boiler

Coal is burned here, releasing heat energy

Cooling Tower

Excess heat is released as steam.

Generator

Converts mechanical energy of the turbine into electrical current.

Precipitator

Removes some of the air pollution before it is released via the smokestack.

Smokestack

Releases smoke from burning the coal.

Transmission Wires

Transmit electrical current towards individual homes.

Turbine

Converts kinetic energy of steam into mechanical energy of spinning fan blades.

What happens to the residual ash produced by a coal-fired power plant in the short-term and in the long-term?

In the short-term, it is stored in an ash pond. When the pond is full, the ash is disposed off in a landfill.

Common application/product of Coal

Electricity

Common application/product of Oil

Gasoline, diesel, heating oil.

Common application/product of Natural Gas

Heat for homes, electricity

Which fossil fuel is described by Cleanest Burning?

Natural gas

Which fossil fuel is described by Greatest Reserves-to-Production Ratio?

Coal

Which fossil fuel is described by Lowest Reserves-to-Production Ratio?

Oil

Which fossil fuel is described by Greatest Number of Products and Applications?

Oil

Which fossil fuel is described by Highest EROI?

Coal

Which fossil fuel is described by Lowest EROI?

Oil

Which fossil fuel is described by Most Likely to Spill During Transport?

Oil