Earth and Space Science Quiz (Unit 5 fosil fuels, sustainability, consumption rates, acidification)

sustainability

meeting present needs without compromising future generations

Nonrenewable resources

takes millions of years to form (coal oil etc)

Renewable resources

natural resources that replenishes over time (solar, wind)

Climate Justice

addressing climate change in a way fair to people

Green energy

Energy from natural sources that are environmentally friendly. An example includes solar, wind, and hydroelectric power.

Urban Planning

Designing cities to be more efficient and environmentally friendly

Environmental Policy

laws and regulations to protect the environment

Resource Depletion

The exhaustion of natural resources due to overuse

Overconsumption

using resources faster than they can be replenished

Ecosystem services

benefits humans get from nature (like clean air and water)

Green Infrastructure

Eco friendly structures supporting sustainability (green roofs, rain gardens)

Coal, Oil and Gas are all

Fossil Fuels

Hydropower, wind, solar and biofuels are

renewable energy sources

Nuclear energy

is not considered a renewable energy source, but also does not involve fossil fuels.

carbon footprint

total greenhouse gas emissions produced by human activities

CO2 & CH4

carbon dioxide & methane

examples of greenhouse gases

water vapor, methane, carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide.

key criteria for a good solution

effectiveness, feasibility, sustainability, Fairness

effectiveness

does it solve the problem?

feasibility

is it realistic (cost, time, resources, technology)

Sustainability

does it cause new problems in the future

fairness

does it benefit or harm certain groups unfairly

constraints

limitations or restrictions that impact a solution

4 types of constraints

• time constraints cost constraints , scope constraints and resource constraints

4 types of constraints

time constraints (deadlines), cost constraints (budget limits), scope constraints (project deliverables), and resource constraints (limited personnel or equipment). 

cost benefit analysis

an assessment of the benefits of a situation vs the costs

cost benefits analysis look for:

determining the soundness of a decision

providing a basis for comparing two alternate decisons

nuclear energy plants

-stablizie natural systems bc nuclear energy does not release green house gases

-contirbituing to global warming and black carbon

-converting coal into a nuclear energy plant would be more effective for India because they have a high consumption of coal

Atmospheric CO2 causes ph levels In the ocean to

become increasingly more acidic

how does acidification affect biodiversity

-weakening food chains in the ocean

-endangerment of oceanic creatures going extinct

effects of acidification on human health

-humans will not be able to have a source of food of certain sea animals

-heat generated from the ocean can cause heat related diseases such as dehydration