Enviornmental Issues Exam 3 + Bonus

Flashcard Study set to use on Envorinemtnal Issues exam

Hydroelectric Energy

Currently produces more electricity than nuclear, wind, or solar energy.

Solar Energy (U.S.)

Primarily used to heat domestic hot water.

Wind Energy

Has the greatest untapped potential of any energy source.

Nuclear Energy

Technically not renewable; energy from controlled nuclear fission of uranium or plutonium.

What is the estimated minimum time before most forms of nuclear waste become safe to handle?

10,000 years

Oyster Creek, NJ

U.S. nuclear power plant being decommissioned after over 50 years.

Fukushima Daiichi, Japan

Site of the most recent major nuclear disaster; suffered a meltdown.

Three Mile Island, PA

Nuclear plant with a partial meltdown due to a stuck valve and operator error; now decommissioned.

Green Revolution

Third agricultural revolution; introduced fast-growing dwarf rice/wheat for the tropics.

Norman Borlaug

"""Father of the Green Revolution""; credited with saving a billion lives."

What is considered the major unaddressed environmental issue with wind energy?

Killing migratory birds and bats.

What halted construction of the London Wind Array?

Risks to an endangered migratory bird.

Food Security

When all people have consistent access to sufficient, safe, and nutritious food.

Selective Breeding

Artificial selection of traits to change genetic characteristics in a population.

Genetic Engineering

Transferring genes from unrelated species into another organism.

De-extinct

Bringing back an extinct species.

AquAdvantage Salmon

Genetically modified salmon that grows twice as fast as natural ones.

What percentage of American households experienced food insecurity?

11.1%

Crude Oil

Thick liquid hydrocarbon extracted and refined into gasoline, heating oil, etc.

Clean Coal Technology

Tech to reduce emissions from coal, including carbon capture; goal is 90% carbon capture.

Desalination

Removing salt from seawater; only 1% of people rely on it.

Watershed

Land area where water drains into a single body of water.

Microplastics

Tiny plastic particles found in ocean, tap, and bottled waters.