Environmental Exam 3

Mountaintop Removal

a type of mining that involves blasting off several hundred feet of mountaintop, dumping the rubble into adjacent valleys, and harvesting the thin ribbons of coal beneath

Coal

A fossil fuel that is formed when plant material is buried in oxygen-poor conditions and subjected to high heat and pressure over a long time

Arguments against Mountaintop Removal

Destroys biodiversity, pollutes the water, Threatens the health and safety of area residents, obliterates the culture of appalachia

Arguments for Mountaintop removal

Provides jobs, tax revenue, and business to an impoverished region, culture of Appalachia is as bound to coal mining as it is to the mountains

Energy

The capacity to do work

Fossil Fuels

nonrenewable resources like coal, oil, and natural gas that were formed over millions of years from the remains of dead organisms

Electricity

The flow of electrons (negatively charged subatomic particles) through a conductive material (such as wire)

Energy return on energy investment (EROEI)

A measure of the net energy from an energy source (the energy in the source minus the energy required to get it, process it, ship it, and then use it.)

Proven Reserves

a measure of the amount of a fossil fuel that is economically feasible to extract from a known deposit using current technology

Surface mining

a form of mining that involves removing soil and rock that overlays a mineral deposit close to the surface in order to access that deposit

strip mining

A surface mining method that accesses coal from deposits close to the surface on level ground, one section at a time

Overburden

the rock and soil removed to uncover a mineral deposit during surface mining; after the coal has been removed, the rock is returned to the pit and topped with the reserved soil

Mountaintop removal (MTR)

a surface mining technique that involves using explosives to blast away the top of a mountain to expose the coal seam underneath; the waste rock and rubble is deposited in a nearby valley

Acid mine drainage

Water that flows past exposed rock in mines and leaches out sulfates. These sulfates react with the water and oxygen to form acids (low pH solutions)

How are Deep deposits of coal mined, and what are the advantages and disadvantages of this method

subsurface mining is used to access deep, thick coal seams. It is less environmentally damaging and employs more workers than surface mining but is a hazardous job

Subsurface mines

sites where tunnels are dug underground to access mineral resources

mining is dangerous

explosions and toxic fumes can be fatal, breathing in coal dust causes pneumoconiosis (Black lung disease) If a fire starts, it is hard to extinguish

Advantages of Subsurface Mines

They don’t disrupt or permanently alter large surface areas, they employ more people

Advantages of Coal

Widely distributed around the world, proven reserves are estimated to last another 100 years, Easier and safer to store and transport compared to other fossil fuels, affordable

The many disadvantages of mountain top removal

The loss of forest and the compaction of soil increases both the frequency and severity of flooding, Explosions send rock and debris flying, which can damage homes and, in rare cases, trigger rockslides, the toxic debris released during blasting causes respiratory illness and other serious health problems

Challenges of Energy Use

By one estimate, OPEC controls about 75% of all proven oil reserves, international relations can affect fuel availability

How are fossil fuels formed, and why are they considered Nonrenewable Resources

Fossil fuels form when organic matter is buried and subjected to high temperature and pressure. Because we use them much faster than they form, they are considered nonrenewable resources

Fossil Fuel

A variety of hydrocarbons formed from the remains of dead organisms that are buried in sediment under low oxygen conditions that slow down decomposition tremendously

oil

a liquid fossil fuel useful as a fuel or as a raw material for industrial products

Natural gas

a gaseous fossil fuel composed mainly of simpler hydrocarbond, mostly methane

Fossil fuels are nonrenewable

a resource that is formed more slowly than it is used or that is present in a finite supply

How are oil and natural gas reserves classified and where are they found

the largest conventional oil and natural gas reserves are in the middle East; however, North America has large deposits of unconventional oil and natural gas

Crude Oil

a mix of hydrocarbons that exists as a liquid underground; can be refined to produce fuels or other products; generally found as tiny droplets wedged within the microscopic open spaces, or pores, inside rocks

Proven reserves

a measure of the amount of a fossil fuel that is economically feasible to extract from a known deposit using current technology; conventional oil reserves are not evenly distributed around the planet, leading to political problems among countries

Conventional reserves

deposit of crude oil or natural gas that can be extracted by vertical drilling and pumping; many researches estimate that we have used about half of the available conventional oil on the plantet

Unconventional reserves

deposits of oil or natural gas that cannot be recovered with traditional oil/ gas wells but may be recoverable using alternative techniques

Tight oil

light (low-density) oil in shale rock deposits of very low permeability; extracted by fracking; most oil found in Bakken is tight oil

How are conventional oil and natural Gas extracted?

oil and natural gas often occur together in rock formations and are extracted from conventional reserves using oil and gas wells

Primary Production

occurs when a well is first drilled pumpjacks used to pump out additional oil once oil stops flowing freely; recovers up to 15% of the oil

Secondary Production

injection wells are drilled near the oil well, and water is pumped in

Tertiary production

injects steam, natural gas, or carbon dioxide gas into the reservoir

Energy return on energy investment (EROEI)

a measure of the net energy from an energy source (the energy in the source (the energy in the source minus the energy required to get it, process it, ship it, and then use it)

What are the trade-offs of acquiring and using conventional oil and natural gas resources

oil and natural gas are used to create a variety of fuel and industrial products. Natural gas is considered the cleanest burning fossil fuel, but like oil, every step of acquisition and use damages the environment and impacts human health

Petrochemicals

distillation products from the processing of crude oil such as fuels or industrial raw materials

Hazards of oil include

disruption and danger to wildlife, oil spills, air pollution, health problems

Carbon Footprint

the amount of carbon released to the atmosphere by a person, company, nation, or activity

trade-offs related to natural gas

exploration and extraction are environmentally damaging, shipping and handling are dangerous due to high flammability, shipping required pipelines which can leak methane, a greenhouse gas, it is nonrenewable

Advantages of oil

Energy-rich fuel, provides variety of liquid fuels that meets needs for vehicles, no ash produced when burned (no disposal issues as with coal), Can transport via pipeline or vehicle (rail, truck, or ship), Raw materials for a wide variety of industrial products

Disadvantages of Oil

Nonrenewable, finite resources, Geopolitical tensions from unequal distribution of reserves, air pollution, including greenhouse gas emissions, water pollution, habitat destruction, biodiversity loss, dangerous to ship, occupational and community health hazards

Advantages of Natural Gas

Energy-rich fuel, Versatile fuel (generates electricity, heating and cooking, vehicle fuel), Lowest air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions of the fossil fuels, No ash produced when burned (no disposal issues as with coal), Raw material for a a wide variety of industrial products

Disadvantages of Natural Gas

Nonrenewable, finite resource, Methane is a potent greenhouse gas; produces CO2 emissions when burned, Water pollution, Habitat destruction, Biodiversity loss (exploration, extraction, spills), Hazardous chemical, Difficult to ship

What unconventional sources of oil and natural Gas exist, and how are they extracted

Shale oil and natural gas deposits that can’t be accessed with conventional wells can be retrieved by fracking, strip mining is used to extract tar sands

Fracking (hydraulic Fracturing)

the extraction of oil or natural gas from dense rock formations by creating factures in the rock and then flushing out the oil/ gas with pressurized fluid; us leads the world in this; reduces the amount of coal used

Tar Sands (oil Sands)

sand or clay formations that contain a heavy-density crude oil (crude bitumen) that is often trapped in sticky, dense conglomerations of sand or clay; extracted by surface mining

What are the trade-offs of pursuing unconventional oil and natural gas sources

Extracting unconventional oil and natural gas supplies produces positive economic benefits, but fracking and tar sands mining have serious negative environmental and societal impacts

Trade-offs of unconventional oil and gas mining

more expensive than conventional methods, contaminates drinking water with methane, huge water footprint, produced toxic wastewater, earthquakes triggered by injection wells

Trade-offs of unconventional fossil fuels

transporting tight oil via pipeline or railway (dangerous) violates private property rights, most energy and water intensive way to extract and process oil, produces the most hazardous waste

Advantages of unconventional fossil fuels

Energy-rick fuels, can be used in the same way that conventional oil or natural gas is used, extends worldwide supply of oil and natural gas, abundant U.S. supply; reduces dependence on imports and stimulates local economies

Disadvantages of Unconventional fossil fuels

nonrenewable, finite resource, same air pollution when burned as with conventional oil and natural gas

Disadvantages of fracking for shale gas/oil

High water inputs, potential for pollution of well water, cna occur without permission of property owner, wastewater issues (hazardous and its disposal is linked to earthquakes), Dangerous to transport, more expensive to extract than conventional sources

Disadvantages of mining for tar sands oil

high water and energy inputs, extensive surface water pollution, extreme habitat destruction, difficult to transport (pipleines must be heated), highest carbon footprint of any fossil fuel extraction method, more expensive to extract than conventional sources

What obstacles stand in the way of the US or any nation achieving energy independence or security

Achieving energy independence or security will require an eventual transition away from fossil fuels; conservation efforts and diversification of energy sources can help in the pursuit of these goals

Energy Independence

meeting all of ones energy needs without importing any energy

Energy security

having access to enough reliable and affordable energy sources to meets ones needs

tropospheric Ozone

Nitrous Oxides (NO), Hydrocarbons'/ VOCs, Sunshine can form photochemical smog

Effects of Tropospheric Ozone

Decreased pulmonary function, Airway inflammation, Increased sensitivity to other toxicants, Increased susceptibility to infection, Crop damage, greenhouse effect

Acid Deposition

Acid rain, mainly produced by burning coal high in sulfur, mainly produced by burning coal high in SULFUR (soft coal), but can also be produced form Nitrogen oxide

1990 Clean Air Act

Set a goal of reducing annual SO2 emissions by 10 million tons below 1980 levels

CFCs and Halons

Determined to be most at fault for diminishing of the ozone layer, organic compounds containing lots of bromine and'/or chlorine, was found in spray can propellants and refrigerants

Ozone Layer

Located in stratosphere, shields earth’s surface from UV radiation, Placement also crucial, produced by UV rays striking normal oxygen gas, and breaks down when struck by more UV or from interaction from chlorine

Ozone Destruction

Bromine and Chlorine are removed in the upper atmosphere by reaction with UV light, Bromine and chlorine then destroy stratospheric ozone through free radical reactions

Less ozone layer

more skin cancer, cataract damage, harm to animals and plants, and also melting of ice caps/ global warming

Ozone recovery

Montreal Protocol of 1987 globally banned CFCs, full recovery not expected until about 2050 or 2060 because Cl has about a 50-100 year lifetime in atmosphere

What is climate change, and why is it more concerning than Day to day changes in weather?

A change of just a few degrees in average temperature can result in a drastically different climate with negative effects on ecosystems and human societies

Weather

the meteorological conditions in a given place on a given day

Climate

long-term patterns or trends of meteorological conditions

Climate Change

alteration in the long-term patterns and statistical averages of meteorological events

Effects of Climate Change

Rising temperatures around the planet, record high temperatures, more and longer heat waves, earlier springs and later winters, extreme cold weather in some places, positional shifts in biomes, rising sea levels, loss of crucial freshwater supplies, stronger storms on land and sea, more unpredictable and variable weather

What is the physical and Biological evidence that climate change is occuring

A warming planet should see warmer average temperatures, melting land and sea ice, rising sea levels, and precipitation changes. All of these are currently being observed. Species’ responses to climate change such as range shifts provide strong evidence that climate is changing enough to affect ecosystems.

Evidence of Climate Change

•Most (97%) scientists agree the climate is now changing and that this change is in response to human activities.

•Evidence is substantial and well supported by many studies (1000s).

•Uncertainty exists over the rate at which future changes and impacts will unfold, but the broad outline of consequences is not in dispute.

Prediction about the consequence of climate change 1: temperatures will rise

•2019 was the second warmest year since records began in 1880.

•As of 2019, the warmest year on record was 2016

•2019 was the 43rd consecutive warmer-than-normal year.

•2010–2019 was the warmest decade in recorded history.

•Every decade since 1960 has been warmer than the one before it.

Prediction about the consequence of climate change 2: Weather patterns will change as temperatures rise

•There are roughly twice as many heat records set now as cold ones.

•Heat waves are deadly.

•Alterations in the global jet stream cause it to become stationary. This results in extreme persistence of weather patterns like heat waves, drought, rain, and snow.

Prediction about the consequence of climate change 3: ice will melt

•Ice and permafrost are melting, and the rate of melt is accelerating.

•Arctic sea ice is setting record lows for ice extent in summer and in winter.

•Glaciers are melting at an increasingly rapid rate.

Prediction about the consequence of climate change 4: sea levels will rise

•South Florida has seen a sea-level rise of 15 to 20 cm (6 to 8 inches).

•Sea-level rise at the U.S. mid-Atlantic coast has been even greater, and barrier islands there are losing ground.

•We are experiencing more damaging storm surges during hurricanes and violent weather, and also more coastal erosion.

Prediction about the consequence of climate change 5: impacts on biodiversity

•Changes in habitats and niches that affect where species are found, as well as broken ecological relationships, are being observed.

•While some species are benefitting from the warmer temperatures, even more species are negatively affected.

•Scientists have documented a wide variety of species shifting their ranges to higher latitudes or elevations, including marine species.