Energy Types and Environmental Impacts

Potential Energy

Stored energy, like drawn bow or elevated water.

Kinetic Energy

Energy in motion, like a released arrow.

Electricity

Flow of electrons generating electric power.

The Grid

Network delivering electricity to homes and businesses.

Carbon-based Energy

Fuels releasing CO2 when burned, like coal. fossil fuels

Carbon Neutral Energy

Fuels absorbing carbon when new sources grow.

Carbon Free Energy

Energy sources like solar, wind, and hydrogen. no burning

Externalities

Indirect costs affecting others beyond producers.

Price of Gas

Cost not reflecting environmental and health impacts.

Fossil Fuels

Non-renewable energy from ancient life forms.

Alberta Tar Sands

Bitumen-laced sand mined, harming ecosystems.

Mountain Top Removal Mining

Destructive mining method stripping mountain tops.

Electrification

Sustainable electricity production without carbon pollution.

Renewable Electricity

Energy from sustainable sources like wind and solar.

Photovoltaic

Solar panels converting sunlight into electricity.

Wind Power

Energy generated by turning turbines with wind.

Geothermal Energy

Heat from the earth used for power.

Hydropower

Electricity generated from flowing water.

Hydrogen

Lightest element, produces water vapor when burned.

Gray Hydrogen

Extracted from methane, emits CO2 during process.

Blue Hydrogen

Traps CO2 emissions from hydrogen extraction.

Green Hydrogen

Produced via electrolysis using clean energy.

Nuclear Fission

Controlled chain reaction generating heat for power.

Nuclear Fusion

Fusing hydrogen molecules for limitless clean energy.

Jean Baptiste Lamarck

Proposed inheritance of acquired characteristics theory. no over expotation of ocean

Tragedy of the Commons

Overuse of shared resources leads to depletion. ex fossil fuels ““essay question

Commons

Shared resources like pastures or forests.

FOMO

Fear of missing out on resources.

Gills

Organs that filter oxygen from water.

Mouth Adaptations

Fish mouths indicate feeding habits.

Scales and Slime

Protects fish from parasites and aids swimming.

Swim Bladder

Maintains buoyancy and balance in fish.

Gill Rakers

Strain plankton from water in some fish.

Lateral Line

Detects motion in water for fish.

Electric Fields

Some fish sense electric fields for prey.

Brackish Water

Mix of salt and fresh water for fish survival.

Anadromous Fish

Born in freshwater, live in saltwater.

Catadromous Fish

Born in saltwater, live in freshwater.

Hudson River Fisheries

Historical fishing center for key species.

Bioaccumulation

Toxic substances accumulate in fish over time.

Overfishing

Depleting fish stocks faster than they can reproduce.

Trawling

Net scraping technique damaging ocean habitats.

Longlining

Fishing method using miles of baited hooks.

Purse Seines

Large nets that capture entire schools of fish.

Ghost Nets

Abandoned nets continue to catch fish.

Target Species

Fish actively sought for capture.

By-catch

Unintended catch of non-target species.

Individual Fishing Quotas

Limits on fishing permits to manage stocks.

Escapement

Allowing fish to spawn and complete lifecycles.

Marine Protected Areas

Zones where fishing is prohibited for conservation.

Sustainable Seafood Labels

Certifications for responsibly caught seafood.

Aquaculture

Fish farming to supplement wild fish stocks.

Sustainable Aquaculture

Fish farming with minimal environmental impact.

Farmed Salmon Issues

Health risks and environmental concerns in farming.

passive solar

direct heat of sun to heat water or home

fuel cell

uses hydrogen gas to make energy

by catch

fish you catch on accident and the are hurt damage or dead

eal story

American eel is born in the Sargasso Sea in the Atlantic. Tiny larvae drift with the currents until they get close to the coast. The baby eels, called glass eels, then migrate up rivers like the Hudson and hide in small tributaries until they are large enough to live in the main river. Eventually, the adults return to the ocean to spawn, and die.WHAT KIND OF A FISH IS THIS

Catadromous fish

the hudson valley eel project

1. The Hudson River Eel Project began in 2008 with two sites, but has expanded over the years to engage roughly 1,000 volunteers each year in eel research. Over its lifetime, the Eel Project has caught, counted, and released over one million glass eels, helping these animals access better habitat.

2. els are great for outreach, education, and engagement! The Eel Project directly involves students and volunteers with scientific design and field methodology. Participants experience their local ecosystem firsthand and collect important information and relevant data about migrating fish. We also do classroom visits about eels and the project to schools that participate, about 2,000 people annually learn about their local environment through these programs. 

more about the eel project what they use

• Fyke Nets: Specialized fyke nets are set in the mouths of tributaries for six to eight weeks each spring, catching the juvenile eels as they migrate upstream. Each net is checked once daily by two or more volunteers. Often, people sign up to check a net one or more specific days per week during the sampling season. It takes approximately an hour to sample each day. All gear and materials are provided, but personal transportation to the site is required. Volunteers should be willing to work outside under variable conditions, and work collaboratively within a team of students and volunteers.

• Eel Mops: Eel mops are devices made to mimic juvenile eel habitat. They are passive traps that are set in the water and checked for living things as often or as little as needed. In addition to glass eels, we often find invertebrates and other small fish as well! Click here to learn How to Make an Eel Mop.

• Eel Ladders: On their journey upstream, eels are confronted by barriers that prevent access to favorable habitats. At a few locations by dams, we set eel ladders that catch eels attempting to swim upstream. The eels are then counted, sized, and released above the dam. The ladders are checked twice a week during the summer sampling season.

tragedy of the commons

Tragedy of the Commons  What is a “commons”? It could be a shared pasture, a forest, rights to fishing a river, or access to use any common resource, like the ocean or even the atmosphere.  If people have unrestricted access to and use of a commonly held shared resource, there is an incentive to overuse and ultimately damage that resource out of self interest.  FOMO-fear of missing out.  If four ranchers have property that borders a public pasture (which they have free access to) instead of managing that public pasture, they may race to send their cattle into the pasture before their neighbors do so they don’t miss out on the “free” public grass for their livestock. In the end, the pasture will become overgrazed and harmed by too many cattle. That’s the “tragedy” part.  Because of advanced technology and economic demand, our oceans and waters, despite LaMarck’s promise, have become a prime example of the Tragedy of the Commons.