EVS Exam 3

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water is a: polar molecule with a covalent bond
people spend: 70-98% of time inside
properties of water: high freezing and boiling points, high heat capacity, high solutability, will filter UV radiation, high surface tension, less dense as a solid, will ionize to act as a buffer
supply of natural gas: 200-300 years
chronic bronchitis: a disease in which the air passages (bronchi) of the lungs become permanently inflamed, causing breathlessness and chronic coughing
crude oil - 42 gallon barrel is a mix of: gasoline, diesel, kerosene, fuel oil (all is 85%) and other minor components
tidal energy: few spots with great enough tidal range
Clean Air Act of 1970: set the standard for modern air quality regulation/authorizes the EPA to se limits on the amount of specific air pollutants permitted everywhere in the US
pressurized fluidized bed combustion: under high pressure, complete combustion of coal occurs at low temperatures
cost of installing fluidized bed combustion: compares favorably with that of installing scrubbers
erosion of material: kills plants
sometimes farmers are drawing water from the Ogallala Aquifer: 40 times faster than nature replaces it lowered water table more than 30m in some places
force: makes a very strong bond
oil supply: 62 to 93 years
acid mine drainage: pollution caused when sulfuric acid and dangerous dissolved materials such as lead, arsenic, and cadmium wash from mines into nearby lakes and streams
lead: 97.5% waste
nuclear energy causes: problems with waste
nuclear energy use is: expected to decline
two types of opposition to securing future fossil fuel energy supplies: one is economic and one is environmental
world uses oil: 86 million barrels/day
several large power plants: testing fluidized bed combustion in US and few small ones already use technology in commercial operation
grades of coal: anthracite, bituminous, lignite, peat
energy resources: 99% from sun
demand-side management: electric utilities help electricity consumers save energy
utilities sell calcium sulfate from scrubber sludge: to wallboard manufacturers
Energy Policy Act of 2005: focused largely on supporting energy research for fossil fuels, and subsidies continue, prompted in part by high gas prices in 2006
5 components to Bush's energy policy: 1) modernize conservation 2) modernize our energy infrastructure 3) increase energy supplies 4) accelerate the protection and improvement of the environment 5) increase our nation's energy security
decrease of 3.8 million metric tons of CO2: represented a significant portion of US's total amound of sulfur dioxide emissions each year
scrubbers: reduce sulfur emissions associated with the combustion of coal and clean the power plants' exhaust
1/3 of all airborne mercury emissions are: currently produced by coal-burning electric power plants
US imports: 55% of current supply
objective 2 of the US comprehensive energy policy: secure future fossil fuel energy supplies
US efficiency: 84% of commercial energy is wasted (41% converted to heat - 43% wasted)
35% of oil: is average recovery from well
currently geothermal is: approx. 1% of electricity
Net energy ratio for gasoline: 4.1 : 1
cons of hydropower: expensive, floods areas, fills with sediment, stops critter migration
scrubbers aka: desulfurization systems
tropopause is: the upper boundary of the troposphere
decommission: to dismantle an old nuclear power plant after it closes
fluidized-bed combustion: takes place at lower temperature than regular coal burning, and fewer nitrogen oxides are produced
incandescent lights are: 5% efficient, 95% wasted
industrial smog: gray smog
by 2010 biomass is predicted to be: 9% of US energy
clean coal technologies: new methods being developed for burning coal that won't contaminate air with sulfur oxides and will reduce NO production
supply of coal: 215-1,125 years
water molecules are bound together by: hydrogen bonds and Van Der Waal's
utilities cut nitrogen oxide emissions by 2.6 million tons/year: out of 7.2 million tons/year total
Yucca Mountain: only candidate for permanent underground storage site for 70,000 tons of high-level radioactive wastes from commercially operated power plants
nation's energy policy: reflects the varied political views of the president, Congress, and the American public
indoor air pollution: fine particulates - up to 60% higher
temperature inversion: is when cool air near ground, warm air in upper atmosphere
mineral resources - non-renewable - metallic and non-metallic: energy is usually separate
sustainable water supply: irrigate more efficiently, water saving technology, improve water management
internal combustion engine: 10% efficient
smelting: melt ore and remove impurities
currently wind is: 1-2% of commercial energy
sulfate and nitrate salts: as solids
stratopause is: the upper boundary of the stratosphere
biomass: solid, liquid, gas biofuels
resource recovery: the process of removing any material - sulfur or metals, for example - from polluted emissions or solid waste and selling it as a marketable product
industrial smog is powered by: burning of coal or heavy oil and is common in Asia
15.7 million metric tons of CO2 in 1993: before reductions mandated by Clean Air Act Amendments went into effect
temperature inversions trap: polluntants and smog
environmental costs: should be weighed against benefits of using particular energy source when it is considered as a practical component of an energy policy
pesticides: are 10 times higher indoors
sources of coal: US has 66% of known reserves
increasing water supplies: build dams and reservoirs, water transfer, use groundwater, desalination, use water more efficiently, import food
calcium sulfate neutralizes: acids in some soils and increases water-holding capacity
US takes: 50 years to change energy sources
liquid biomass is: ethanol and methanol for gasoline additive
troposphere: 0 - 11 miles (0 - 5 miles at poles); contains 75 to 80% of mass of atmosphere; most circulation and weather
others use fly ash (chemical from chimney flues): to make lightweight concrete that would sub for wood in building industry
gold: 99.99% waste
comercial energy use in US: 92% from non-renewable sources
cons of desalination: location, expensive - not practical in LDC, produces large amounts of salt or brine
subsidies: a form of government support (such as public financing or tax breaks) given to a business or institution to promote that group's activity; should be eliminated to encourage energy conservation
energy efficiency is: the % of energy input that does useful work
objective 4 of the US comprehensive energy policy: meet the 1st 3 objectives without further damage to the environment
higher temperatures: cause N and O to combine, forming NO
Nuclear Waste Policy Act: put burden of developing permanent sites for civilian and military radioactive wastes on the federal government and required the first site to be operational by 1998, also legally required US govt. to take ownership of nuclear wastes
pros of building dams and reservoirs: more water trapped, controls floods, recreation, food-fish
EPA estimates indoor air pollution is: #1 source of cancer risk
vitrification: solidifying liquid waste into solid glass or ceramic logs
refining produces: polluted air and water
desulfurization systems cost: $50 to $80 per installed kilowatt, or about 10-15% of the construction costs of a coal-fired electric power plant
reserve: marginal or subeconomic
Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990: require nation's 111 dirtiest coal-burning power plants to cut sulfur dioxide emissions
nuclear energy has had: steady production since 1989
photochemcial smog: mix of primary and secondary pollutions formed under influence of sunlight; most common is ozone; 100+ also formed
by 2020 wind is predicted to be: 10% of commercial energy
fluidized-bed combustion: clean coal technology in which crushed coal is mixed with limestone to neutralize the acidic sulfur compounds produced during combustion
fluidized bed combustion: more efficient than traditional coal burning because it produces more heat from given amount of coal and reduces CO2 emissions/unit of electricity produced
US energy use: 4.6% of world population uses 24% of world commercial energy
thermopause to outer space is: the upper boundary
top indoor air pollutants are: smoke, formaldehyde, radon
pros of biomass: large supply, low cost, no net CO2 - already in system
gas - biogas: animal by product; decomposition of organics - trash or manure
cogeneration: combined heat and power
6% of all commercial energy is: nuclear
the US is 16%: efficient
Use water more efficiently: typical water system - 65-70% lost; in US - 50% loss; 43% of irrigation water reaches crops, lost to evaporation, runoff, leaks; improve technology for water use; water is cheap
air pollution: 50% of all toxic emissions
identification by: air photos, satellite, drill core, seismic
acid deposition causes decline in human health: respiratory problems
import food to reduce use: expensive to import
acid deposition causes: lower soil pH
pressurized fluidized bed combustion: is more expensive than regular, requires costly pressurized vessel
pros of desalination: increase water supply; reduce use of surface and groundwater
sources of natural gas: Russia and Kazakhstan, Iran, Quatar, US
lime scrubbers: a chemical spray of water and lime neutralizes acidic gases such as sulfur dioxide (which remains behind as a calcium sulfate sludge that becomes a disposal problem)
environmental impact: energy use - 90 million US home for steel industry
pros of wind: high net energy, moderate cost to build, cheap electricity, low pollution
indoor air pollution: common pollutants indoors: generally 2 to 5 times higher concentration inside
UN Convention on the Law of the Sea: effective in 1994; considered "constitution for the ocean" that protects its resources
composition of troposphere: 78% nitrogen; 21% oxygen; 0.01 to 4% water; 0.8% argon; 0.037% carbon dioxide; <0.001% others
modern scrubbers remove: 98% of the sulfur and 99% of the particulate matter in smokestacks
alternative fuels are: for the most part renewable
pros of water transfer - pipelines, tunnels, aqueducts: get water where needed
fluidized-bed combustion and coal gasification and liquefication (considered in discussion of synfuels): clean coal technologies
types of available freshwater: surface water - 33% is reliable runoff for use, groundwater - zones of aeration and saturation/water table, aquifer and aquaclude, currently we use 55% of reliable supply - most for irrigation
smog: smoke and fog
formation by: rock forming processes
net energy ratio for biofuels: 0.7 : 1
Convention on the Regulation of Antartic Mineral Resource Activities: required unanimous agreement for ratification so Antartica's minerals could be exploited
entombment: not considered b/c permanently encase the entire plant in concrete and tomb would have to remain intact for at least 1000 years
cons of geothermal are: few sites, associated air pollution, depleted easily
National Appliance Energy Conservation Act: sets national efficiency standards for fridges, freezers, washing machines, clothes dryers, dishwashers, room air conditioners, and ranges/ovens (microwaves
subsurface mining: shaft and gallery
saltwater intrusion: when you overdraw the groundwater and pull in seawater
coal burning contributes more air pollutants than: burning oil or natural gas
transportation consumes: 25% of energy in US
increases 50%: fuel consumption when driven at 75 mph instead of 55 mph
clean coal technologies: have little effect on reducing CO2 emissions
thermosphere: 50 - 75 miles
land disruption: 500,000 US mines Reclamation only required for coal mines
increases 30%: fuel consumption when driven at 65 mph instead of 55 mph
nuclear energy: produces heat to make steam to turn turbine to make electricity
major reserves - OPEC: Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Kuwait, Iran, U.A. Emirates
coal produces: 62% of world electricity
bituminous coal contains: sulfur and nitrogen that are released into the atmosphere as sulfur oxides and nitrogen oxides (they form acids when they react with water)
acid deposition causes: pollution of surface water
compliance w/Clean Air Act Amendment of 1990: resulted in a total annual decrease of 3.8 million metric tons of CO2 nationwide
industries consume: 42% of energy in US
water pollution: 40% of US watersheds
in US, government has standards: for 6 pollutants
within industry,: metals -26%; chemicals -19%; fossil fuels -14%; paper -8%; stone, glass, clay -7%; food -5%; other industries -21%
by 2025 solar energy is predicted to be: 25% of commercial energy
burning coal causes a more severe CO2 problem than burning other fossil fuels because: coal burning releases more CO2 per unit of heat produced
manganese nodules: small rocks the size of potatoes that contain manganese and other minerals, such as copper, cobalt, and nickel/are widespread on ocean floor particularly in Pacific
mesosphere: 30 - 50 miles
processing - refining: 80% of mined material on average is waste or tailings
hydropower as energy: large scale - big dams; small scale - little dams; pumped storage - reservoir
extraction: surface mining (90% of minerals and 60% of coal), open pit, dredging, area strip mine, contour strip mine, hilltop removal
buildings consume: 33% of energy in US
nitric, sulfuric, hydrochloric, carbonic: as liquids
mesopause is: the upper boundary of the mesosphere
use of coal: 21% of commerical energy is from coal
combustion of coal is responsible for: acid deposition
farmers apply: calcium sulfate as soil conditioner
acid deposition: a type of air pollution in which acid falls from the atmosphere to the surface as precipitation (acid precipitation) or as dry acid particles
objective 1 of the US comprehensive energy policy: increase energy efficiency and conservation
storage, entombment, and decommissioning: are three options that exist when a nuclear power plant is closed
mesosphere has: a thin atmosphere, temperature decreases
cogeneration: the production of two useful forms of energy from the same fuel
comprehensive national energy strategy: could include the environmentally sound and responsible development of domestically produced fossil fuels, especially natural gas
solar energy: heating of homes and water, high temperature furnaces, electricity - solar cells
iron: 60% waste
sludge is currently disposed of: in landfills
Antartic Treaty: an international agreement in effect since 1961, limits activity in Antartica to peaceful uses such as scientific studies
Environmental Protection Protocol to the Antartic Treaty or Madrid Protocol: went into effect in 1990, includes a moratorium on mineral exploration and development for a minimum of 50 years/designates Antartica and its marine ecosystem as a "natural reserve dedicated to peace and society"
desalination: remove salt from seawater/distillation/reverse osmosis (most common) - pumping water through very fine filter
within transportation,: motor vehicles -74%; air -14%; marine -7%; rail -5%
outdoor air pollution major types: carbon oxides, sulfur oxides, nitrogen oxides, volatile organic compounds (VOC's), suspended particulate matter (SPM), photochemical oxidants, radioactive material, hazardous air pollutants (HAP's)
biomass is ___% of US energy: 4; crop residue, wood, manure
currently hydropower is: 6% of commercial energy
geothermal: steam or hot water
Coal: decomposed land plant material
improving efficiency: save $1 trillion/year; fluorescent lights (22% efficient); hybrid electric cars; fuel cells; building insulation
The Ogallala Aquifer: largest groundwater deposit in the world/farmers from High Plains depend on it/most livestock and plants come from here
within buildings,: heating, A/C, ventilation -64%; hot water heating -24%; lighting -12%
sulfur emissions: are removed as calcium sulfate and nitrogen oxide form because of low temperatures
sludge: is treated as a marketable product rather than as polluted emission
nationwide cap on SO2 emissions: from coal-burning power plants was imposed after 2000
additional 10 to 25%: of oil for secondary recovery
Tuscon, Miami, San Antonio, and Memphis: have municipal well fields and depend almost entirely on groundwater for drinking water
pros of hydropower: high net energy (approx. 80% efficient), cheap electricity, low pollution, flood control, water. recreation
equilibrium between CO2 in atmosphere, CO2 dissolved in ocean, and CO2 in organic matter: changes over long periods of time (thousands or millions of years)
In US - 51% of all drinking water is groundwater: 96% in rural areas is wells, 20% in urban, 43% of all irrigation
amount of reserves depends on: actual and potential supply - rate of use, depletion time - 80% of reserve, reserve to production ratio, price factor - 1 in 10,000 site productive
mineral reserves: could be extracted from seawater
first air quality legislation: in the US the Air Pollution Control Act of 1955 was
groupings of air pollutants: primary and secondary
composition of stratosphere: nearly same as troposphere, except no water; more ozone - filters out 95% of UV radiation; most ozone around tropopause and base of stratosphere - 14 -15 miles
alternate energy sources: solar, hydropower, tidal energy, wind, biomass, geothermal
deplete foreign oil reserves while prices are reasonable: save domestic supplies for the future
energy use trends: coal - down; oil and gas - up; nuclear - steady
copper: 99% waste
subsidence inversion: warm air moves in over cooler air
cons of groundwater: excessive removal-lowers water table and wells go dry, deplete aquifer, subsidence, saltwater intrusion, capture surface water, draw pollutants
objective 3 of the US comprehensive energy policy: develop alternative energy sources
acidification of lakes and streams: has resulted in the decline of aquatic animal populations and is linked to some of the forest decline documented worldwide
US's reasons for comprehensive energy policy: 1) supply of fossil fuels is limited 2) production, transport, and use of fossil fuels pollute the environment 3) our heavy dependence on foreign oil makes us economically vulnerable
sulfur: in coal reacts with calcium limestone to form calcium sulfate, which precipitates out, so it is removed from coal burning process/scrubbers not needed
combustion of coal releases: mercury into the air
refining: uses lots of water and energy
oil is formed from: marine microorganisms
pros of groundwater: can be removed as needed - constant supply, not lost to evaporation, cheaper to develop
nuclear power plant: 8% efficient
US trade deficit: causes economists to argue against view of developing future fossil fuel energy supplies
solid biomass: burn wood or manure
Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990: gave incentives for utility companies to convert to clean coal technologies
pros of solar energy: high net energy (approximately 90% efficient), non-polluting, low environmental impact, systems last 20-40 years
26 nations: are voting members of the Antartic Treaty
normal rain is: slightly acidic - pH = 5.6
currently biomass is: 11% of world energy
currently solar is: approximately 1% of commercial energy
commercial energy use in world: 82% from non-renewable sources
comprehensive energy policy: should provide a secure supply of energy, encourage us to use less energy, and protect the environment
thermosphere has: very thin atmosphere, temperature increases from direct heating from sun
stratosphere: 11 - 30 miles
aluminum: 81% waste
no substantial mineral deposits: have been found in Antartica
storage: utility company guards plant for 50 to 100 years, while some of the radioactive materials decay
wind: wind farms or turbine fans
cons of solar energy: expensive, need light approximately 60% of time, maintenance costs
water shortage caused by: dry climate, drought, desiccation, water stress and water scarcity
acid deposition: solid and liquid particles
the 6 pollutants are: carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide, SPM, ozone, lead
cons of building dams and reservoirs: stop sediment movement (no new sediments for nutrients), may run river dry downstream, flood land-farmland, expensive
amount of irrigation in Texas: has declined 11%
environmentalists: opposed development and use of domestic fossil fuels because of environmental problems discussed
air pollution is the presence of one or more chemcial in the atmosphere that: cause harm to critters, plants, humans; cause harm to materials; alter climate
in 2nd phase of Clean Air Act Amendments: >200 additional power plants made SO2 cuts by the year 2000, resulting in total annual decrease of 10 million metric tons nationwide
US uses oil: 22 million barrels/day
cons of water transfer: decrease water quality in source area, encourage waste
significantly decrease CO2 released: if improvements of fluidized bed combustion technology developed and were adopted widely then could
net energy ratio for natural gas: 4.9 : 1
radiation inversion: air near ground cools faster at night; common in cities surrounded by mountains - LA, Denver
estimated cost of indoor air pollution: is $100 billion/year
primary: emitted directly to atmospherein potentially harmful form
104 current: nuclear plants in US
emphysema: a disease in which the air sacs (alveoli) in the lungs become irreversibly distended, decreasing the efficiency of respiration and causing breathlessness and wheezy breathing
natural gas: mix of methane, ethane, propane, butane found with oil
polluted air is cleaned by: passing through scrubber and chemicals reacting with pollution to cause it to precipitate out
pros of geothermal are: high efficiency, low cost, low impact
secondary: primary that react with atmosphere or each other
cons of wind: need steady wind, need back up system for no wind, large land use, noise
cons of biomass: low efficiency, increases erosion, air pollution
resources: hypothetical and speculative
water supplies: 71% of planet surface cover, 97.4% is saltwater, 2.46% is ice or deep groundwater, 0.014% is available freshwater

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