pvcc bio exam 3

net energy

energy output-energy input

crude oil

A mixture of hydrocarbons that exists in liquid phase in natural underground reservoirs and remains liquid at atmospheric pressure after passing through surface separating facilities.

standard wells v deep wells

shallow or unconfined wells are completed in the uppermost saturated aquifer at that location (the upper unconfined aquifer). Deep or confined wells are sunk through an impermeable stratum into an aquifer that is sandwiched between two impermeable strata (aquitards or aquicludes).

peak production

point after which the pressure in a well drops and its rate of conventional crude oil production starts to decline.

unconventional crude oil

crude oil that is obtained through methods other than traditional vertical well extraction (tar sands)

conventional crude oil

an organic compound that has developed naturally within the Earth's crust. (shale)

crude oil refining

piping crude oil through hot furnaces. The resulting liquids and vapors are discharged into distillation units.

crude oil distribution

pipelines transport the oil to another carrier or directly to a refinery.

crude oil uses

to propel vehicles, to heat buildings, and to produce electricity.

crude oil environmental implications

exxon valdez and deepwater horizon

natural gas uses

space and water heating, cooking, and drying clothes

natural gas fracking

doddridge county, wv

natural gas pipelines

atlantic coast pipeline

natural gas environmental implications

leaks, water pollution, groundwater, contamination, earthquakes

coal

dirtiest fossil fuel; plentiful at this time, burn for electricity

coal ash

clinch river, dan river, dominion closures

coal power release permits

james river, potomac river

nuclear energy reactor meltdown

chernobyl and fukishima

nuclear energy uranium wastes

pools, casks, yucca mountain, north anna

architecture efficiencies

building orientation, superinsulation, passive solar energy considerations, green roof, vertical forest

hybrids and plugins

teslas, lithium batteries, lightweight cars

CAFE fuel efficiency standards

corporate average fuel economy

solar

fastest, growing renewable energy source, costs dropping

passive v active solar

Passive systems are structures whose design, placement, or materials optimize the use of heat or light directly from the sun. Active systems have devices to convert the sun's energy into a more usable form, such as hot water or electricity.

mirror v photovoltaic cells

mirrors are used in solar devices to collect heat and radiations. Heat radiations from the sun coming from infinity are brought to focus by concave mirror in its focal plane.

photovoltaic cells a nonmechanical device that converts sunlight directly into electricity.

solar energy negatives

toxic materials, water usage

wind

2nd fastest growing renewable energy source, costs dropping

wind farms

offshore Offshore wind power or offshore wind energy is the generation of electricity through wind farms in bodies of water, usually at sea.

land based Capturing energy from onshore wind.

geothermal energy

use steam to produce electricity. The steam comes from reservoirs of hot water found a few miles or more below the earth's surface.

carbon dioxide current levels in the atmosphere

424.02 ppm

cause of global warming

As greenhouse gas emissions blanket the Earth, they trap the sun’s heat. This leads to global warming and climate change

global temp increase

average summer temps are higher, hottest years on record, warming oceans (extreme storms), more water vapor (rain events, floods), droughts, fires, food supply (reduced yield, increased pests and disease), water (higher demand and less availability), health (infectious disease zika, heat stress, air quality, waterborne disease), and poles (melting glaciers and thawing permafrost-methane)

paris agreement

2014 US and China committment

clean power plan

announced by President Obama in August 2015, set the first-ever limits on carbon pollution from U.S. power plants

2015 paris

1. 195 countries

2. <2C global temperature increase

3. Accountability review every 5 years

4. Climate remediation $$

2016 paris

1. June 29^th – North American pledge

2. September 3^rd: ratified Paris Agreement

2017

1. March 28^th: Trump Administration’s Energy Executive Order

2. June: Trump Administration announcement of withdraw