Chapter 15 Nonrenewable Energy Sources, Their Impacts, and Energy Conservation

These flashcards cover key concepts related to nonrenewable energy sources and their impacts, derived from the lecture notes.

What is hydraulic fracturing commonly known as?

Fracking

What impacts of fracking were observed in Dimock, Pennsylvania?

Noise, air pollution, and contaminated drinking water.

What is the main substance turned into natural gas in shale formations?

Natural gas is locked in tiny bubbles dispersed throughout shale rock.

What does EROI stand for and why is it important?

Energy Returned on Investment, it measures the energy gained from a source relative to the energy invested.

What is the definition of fossil fuels?

Highly combustible substances formed underground from the remains of ancient organisms.

What are the three forms of fossil fuels?

Solid (coal), liquid (oil), and gas (natural gas).

What are oil sands also known as?

Tar sands.

What process involves extracting oil from oil sands?

Stripping mining or injecting steam and solvents.

Which fossil fuel is considered cleaner-burning than coal?

Natural gas.

What problem did the EPA find in reanalyses of Dimock's water?

High levels of chemicals threatening health.

What are the environmental concerns associated with coal mining?

Soil erosion, habitat destruction, and water pollution.

What did the Fukushima disaster influence regarding nuclear power?

Heightened public anxiety and safety discussions.

What does the term 'clean coal technologies' refer to?

Techniques aimed at removing pollutants during electricity generation from coal.

What is carbon capture and storage (CCS)?

A technology designed to capture CO2 emissions and store them underground.

Why are fossil fuels considered non-renewable?

They take millions of years to form and cannot be replenished in a human time frame.

What event is referred to as Hubbert's Peak?

The prediction of U.S. oil extraction peaking around 1970.

What is the impact of oil spills on marine environments?

Death of marine life and long-term ecosystem damage.

What electricity generation method produces CO2 emissions but less than fossil fuels?

Nuclear power.

What commonality do the tragedies at Three Mile Island, Chernobyl, and Fukushima share?

They all involved severe nuclear accidents.

How does the U.S. Strategic Petroleum Reserve function?

It stores one month supply of oil for emergency use.

What does energy conservation primarily stem from?

Behavioral choices to reduce unnecessary energy use.

What is hydraulic fracturing commonly known as?

Fracking

What impacts of fracking were observed in Dimock, Pennsylvania?

Noise, air pollution, and contaminated drinking water.

What is the main substance turned into natural gas in shale formations?

Natural gas is locked in tiny bubbles dispersed throughout shale rock.

What does EROI stand for and why is it important?

Energy Returned on Investment, it measures the energy gained from a source relative to the energy invested.

What is the definition of fossil fuels?

Highly combustible substances formed underground from the remains of ancient organisms.

What are the three forms of fossil fuels?

Solid (coal), liquid (oil), and gas (natural gas).

What are oil sands also known as?

Tar sands.

What process involves extracting oil from oil sands?

Stripping mining or injecting steam and solvents.

Which fossil fuel is considered cleaner-burning than coal?

Natural gas.

What problem did the EPA find in reanalyses of Dimock's water?

High levels of chemicals threatening health.

What are the environmental concerns associated with coal mining?

Soil erosion, habitat destruction, and water pollution.

What did the Fukushima disaster influence regarding nuclear power?

Heightened public anxiety and safety discussions.

What does the term 'clean coal technologies' refer to?

Techniques aimed at removing pollutants during electricity generation from coal.

What is carbon capture and storage (CCS)?

A technology designed to capture CO2 emissions and store them underground.

Why are fossil fuels considered non-renewable?

They take millions of years to form and cannot be replenished in a human time frame.

What event is referred to as Hubbert's Peak?

The prediction of U.S. oil extraction peaking around 1970.

What is the impact of oil spills on marine environments?

Death of marine life and long-term ecosystem damage.

What electricity generation method produces CO2 emissions but less than fossil fuels?

Nuclear power.

What commonality do the tragedies at Three Mile Island, Chernobyl, and Fukushima share?

They all involved severe nuclear accidents.

How does the U.S. Strategic Petroleum Reserve function?

It stores one month supply of oil for emergency use.

What does energy conservation primarily stem from?

Behavioral choices to reduce unnecessary energy use.

What is the general process by which hydraulic fracturing extracts natural gas from shale?

High-pressure injection of water, sand, and various chemicals is used to fracture rock formations, allowing natural gas to flow out.

What highly potent greenhouse gas is a primary component of natural gas and can be released into the atmosphere through leaks during fracking operations and transport?

Methane (CH_4).

Aside from the risk of major accidents, what is a significant long-term challenge associated with nuclear power generation?

The safe and permanent disposal of radioactive waste, which remains hazardous for thousands of years.

What is the overarching goal of 'clean coal technologies' and Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS)?

To mitigate the environmental impact of coal by reducing pollutant emissions during combustion and capturing CO_2 before it enters the atmosphere for underground storage.

What is hydraulic fracturing commonly known as?

Fracking

What impacts of fracking were observed in Dimock, Pennsylvania?

Noise, air pollution, and contaminated drinking water.

What is the main substance turned into natural gas in shale formations?

Natural gas is locked in tiny bubbles dispersed throughout shale rock.

What does EROI stand for and why is it important?

Energy Returned on Investment, it measures the energy gained from a source relative to the energy invested.

What is the definition of fossil fuels?

Highly combustible substances formed underground from the remains of ancient organisms.

What are the three forms of fossil fuels?

Solid (coal), liquid (oil), and gas (natural gas).

What are oil sands also known as?

Tar sands.

What process involves extracting oil from oil sands?

Stripping mining or injecting steam and solvents.

Which fossil fuel is considered cleaner-burning than coal?

Natural gas.

What problem did the EPA find in reanalyses of Dimock's water?

High levels of chemicals threatening health.

What are the environmental concerns associated with coal mining?

Soil erosion, habitat destruction, and water pollution.

What did the Fukushima disaster influence regarding nuclear power?

Heightened public anxiety and safety discussions.

What does the term 'clean coal technologies' refer to?

Techniques aimed at removing pollutants during electricity generation from coal.

What is carbon capture and storage (CCS)?

A technology designed to capture CO2 emissions and store them underground.

Why are fossil fuels considered non-renewable?

They take millions of years to form and cannot be replenished in a human time frame.

What event is referred to as Hubbert's Peak?

The prediction of U.S. oil extraction peaking around 1970.

What is the impact of oil spills on marine environments?

Death of marine life and long-term ecosystem damage.

What electricity generation method produces CO2 emissions but less than fossil fuels?

Nuclear power.

What commonality do the tragedies at Three Mile Island, Chernobyl, and Fukushima share?

They all involved severe nuclear accidents.

How does the U.S. Strategic Petroleum Reserve function?

It stores one month supply of oil for emergency use.

What does energy conservation primarily stem from?

Behavioral choices to reduce unnecessary energy use.

What is the general process by which hydraulic fracturing extracts natural gas from shale?

High-pressure injection of water, sand, and various chemicals is used to fracture rock formations, allowing natural gas to flow out.

What highly potent greenhouse gas is a primary component of natural gas and can be released into the atmosphere through leaks during fracking operations and transport?

Methane (CH_4).

Aside from the risk of major accidents, what is a significant long-term challenge associated with nuclear power generation?

The safe and permanent disposal of radioactive waste, which remains hazardous for thousands of years.

What is the overarching goal of 'clean coal technologies' and Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS)?

To mitigate the environmental impact of coal by reducing pollutant emissions during combustion and capturing CO_2 before it enters the atmosphere for underground storage.

What geological conditions are necessary for the formation of fossil fuels like coal, oil, and natural gas?

High pressure, high temperature, and the absence of oxygen over millions of years, acting on the remains of ancient organic matter.

What fundamental process is used in nuclear power plants to generate electricity?

Nuclear fission, which is the splitting of an atom's nucleus into two or more smaller nuclei, releasing a large amount of energy.

What significant environmental impacts are associated with the extensive water use and land disturbance required for oil sands extraction?

Habitat destruction, large volumes of contaminated wastewater (tailings ponds), and significant greenhouse gas emissions from the energy-intensive extraction processes.

How does a high Energy Returned on Investment (EROI) value for an energy source correlate with its net energy gain and economic viability?

A high EROI indicates that significantly more energy is produced than consumed for its extraction and processing, suggesting greater net energy gain and often better economic viability.

What is the primary global application of coal as an energy source?

The generation of electricity through combustion in thermal power plants.