Unit 4 Resources the Environment Vocabulary Natural resources

Unit 4 Resources & the Environment Vocabulary • • • Natural resources Nonrenewable Renewable Alloy Rare earth elements Mining Ore Recycle Reclamation Fossil fuel Iterate Ecosystem services • • • Hydraulic fracturing Tar sand Oil shale Hydroelectric energy Tidal energy Geothermal energy Sustainable development Engineering design process Constraint for Engineering Criterion for Engineering Tradeoff biodiversity

Splendid Stones Video

Earth Science Bring composition book up to be stamped if vocabulary is completed.

Resources and the Environment Nonrenewable Resources

Why Protect Earth’s Environment? • Earth’s environment includes all of the resources, influences and conditions near its surface. • The basic resources: Ø Air Ø Water Ø Land Ø Sunlight

Earth’s Environment • Contains: • Natural Resources (2 types) Ø Renewable Resources Ø Nonrenewable Resources

Renewable Resources • A resource that can be replaced in nature at a rate close to its use. • Examples: Ø Oxygen (O 2) Ø Trees Ø Food grown in soil Ø Energy from the sun

Nonrenewable Resources • A resource that exists • Examples: in a fixed amount that can not be replaced by Ø Fossil Fuels nature, at the same rate Ø Metals it is used. Ø Nonmetals Ø Helium

United States of America – Consumption of Renewable Resources • You alone consume 40, 000 pounds of minerals each year. Ø Stone and Cement: Building Ø Silicon: Fiber Optics and Computers Ø Fertilizers: Farming Ø Aluminum: Cars, Trucks, etc.

What is an Ore? • Any rock that contains enough of a metallic element to make separation profitable. • Examples: Ø Gold Ø Silver Ø Iron Ø Aluminum Ø Copper

Aluminum, Copper and Gold

Supply and Demand • What is a Reserve? • A known deposits of a mineral in ores that are worth mining.

Mining of Ores • Underground mines reached by tunnels.

Mining of Ores • Near surface through open pit mines.

Energy Resources: Nonrenewable Energy Coal 18. 54% Natural Gas 27. 3% Petroleum 35. 99% Fossil Fuels: 81. 81%

Repairing the Hole in the Ozone Turn in Oil assignment to the stool up front. Grab the computer associated with you desk number. Do not logon. After Video CER • Develop a claim from the video that you can support with 3 -4 pieces of data • Write a ¾ to 1 -page summary supporting your claim • E-mail it to Bidondo. Charles@westada. org

Fossil Fuels • By the end of the period you will be able to describe various types of fossil fuels.

Fossil Fuels • Formed from the remains of living organisms that lived on Earth millions of years ago. Ø Coal Ø Oil Ø Natural Gas

Fossil Fuels • Are nonrenewable. • Finite, found in limited amounts in specific locations on Earth.

Fossil Fuels 300 years of fossil fuels • Fossil fuels (petroleum, coal, natural gas) are the major source of energy (90%) currently used in the world • All are hydrocarbons – Molecules containing Hydrogen and Carbon • All are combustible • Methane—the simplest hydrocarbon – CH 4 – Has potential energy stored in the bonds between the atoms in the molecule – The energy is released during combustion reactions

• Bigger Hydrocarbons=better fuel – The more energy per molecule from combustion – The easier to liquefy • Fit more in a small volume • Easier to transport

Electrical Energy • Most electrical energy is produced as a result of burning fossil fuels • Electricity is the flow of electrons • Electricity is generated in a generator by moving copper wires in a magnetic field – The more wires that are used and the stronger the magnetic field, the more electricity created • The fossil fuels are combusted to boil water to make steam – The steam expands and is used to move the turbines to move the wires in the magnetic field – Electricity is produced

Energy Efficiency • Efficiency measures the ability of an engine to transform chemical energy to mechanical energy – Does all the potential energy (chemical) get turned into electricity (or even heat energy)? – 60% of total energy generated is used while 40% is lost as heat

Coal • Organic sedimentary rock, formed from the decayed remains of: Ø Ferns Ø Mosses Ø Trees

Formation of Coal Four Steps: Ø Peat: swamp matter decays and becomes compacted. Ø Lignite: water is forced out through compaction and sedimentation. Ø Bituminous: sedimentation over millions of years makes it harder (Sedimentary Rock). Ø Anthracite: was exposed to heat and pressure hardening (Metamorphic Rock).

Coal Formation • Coal formation takes millions of years • Coal is the most abundant fossil fuel – An approximate molecular formula for coal is C 135 H 96 O 9 NS – Primarily used for generating electricity – Three categories • Lignite—high moisture, least desirable • Bituminous—most abundant, most widely used • Anthracite—highest energy content, hard to obtain

United States of America – Coal Reserves

Fast Facts about Coal - United States of America • Produces about 1. 1 billion tons (20%) of the world's coal. China is second. • Provides approximately 50% of the electricity used. • Possesses a 245 -year supply of coal. • Most coal reserves are found in Montana (119 billion tons). • Coal deposits contain more energy than that of all the world's oil reserves. • Each person uses 3. 8 tons of coal each year.

Coal and the Environment • Coal has a reputation as a dirty fuel source which pollutes the air and damages the landscape. • Coal suppliers are utilizing: Ø Land Reclamation Ø Reduction Air Pollution Scrubbers No Scrubbers

Environmental Impacts of Burning Coal • Releases large quantities of CO 2 into atmosphere (greenhouse gas) • Releases other pollutants into atmosphere (mercury, sulfur oxides, nitrogen oxides) • Can cause acid rain

Oil • Liquid formed more than 300 million years ago from the remains of: • Diatoms (sea creatures the size of a pin head) which converted sunlight directly into stored energy.

Formation of Oil

United States of America – Oil Reserves

The World’s Favorite Hydrocarbon • Octane: Eight Carbons – The main ingredient in gasoline • Processing Crude Oil – As it comes from the ground, oil is not in a form suitable for use, and must be refined • Mulitple products can be produced from 1 barrel of crude oil – Distillation/Refining • Process in which a solution is heated to its boiling point and the vapors are condensed and collected *1 Barrel of crude oil contains 42 gallons

Oil – Products from 1 Barrel

Fast Facts about Oil • Products from oil help us do many things (for example: fuel for airplanes, cars and trucks, heat for homes and to make medicines and plastics).

Oil and the Environment • Air and Water Pollution. Energy Blues (3 min) • Exploration and drilling may disturb land ocean habitats. • Oil spills into rivers or oceans harms wildlife. • Storage tank or pipeline leaks will enter the ground requiring cleanup. • Burning of oil as fuel results in the production of carbon dioxide, which is linked with Global Warming.

Natural Gas • Organic matter (remains of a plant or animal) is compressed under the Earth, at very high pressure for a very long time.

Formation of Natural Gas • Thermogenic Methane: organic particles are covered in mud and other sediment and overtime through burial, deep temperatures beneath the Earth break the carbon bonds. • Biogenic Methane: transformation of organic matter by tiny microorganisms (for example: landfills).

United States of America – Reserves of Natural Gas

Fast Facts about Natural Gas • Usually found 1 -2 miles beneath the surface of the Earth. • Natural gas has many applications, commercially, in your home, in industry, and even in the transportation sector!

Natural Gas and the Environment • Cleanest of all fossil fuels since it is composed primarily of Methane and breaks down through combustion into carbon dioxide and water vapor.

• Natural gas Natural Gas – Mixture of gases – More than half is CH 4 (methane) • Can be used to generate electricity • Use is increasing – Up 45% from 1985 -2003 • Least environmentally damaging fossil fuel – Does not have other atoms attached to it, so not as polluting as coal when burned. – Still produces CO 2 since it does combustion

z This Week in Earth Science § Finish Carbon Footprint lab § Get computer associated with your desk number § Quiz over 1 st portion of Notes § Notes 52 through 56

z Earth Science – S 2 Carbon footprint web quest plan

z Directions § Go to the following website and complete your carbon footprint web quest. https: //www. nature. org/en-us/getinvolved/how-to-help/carbon-footprintcalculator/ § This total is your “carbon footprint” in the number of pounds of carbon dioxide per year. § The lower the number, the fewer greenhouse gasses are emitted into the atmosphere. § Review your choices in the survey. § What changes can you make in your life to reduce your carbon footprint? Try to make some of these changes in the next week. § Use the space below the screen shot of your final carbon footprint calculator score to make a plan to reduce your carbon footprint. § This needs to be done as a Word document. Write the questions out and make your pledge. § It needs to be sent electronically.

z Questions 1. Things I will turn off: 2. How I will get to school: 3. What I will eat: 4. How much I will use electronics: 5. What I will recycle: 6. Other things I will do:

$Fracking FACTS (4 min) The process of fracturing rock under ground, then forcing liquids$

Fracking FACTS (4 min) The process of fracturing rock under ground, then forcing liquids into the ground to force gas or oil to rise. CNN Fracking (3 min)

Earth Science Today • Renewable Resources • Quiz retake available starting 2/6 @ Griz

End of the Fossil Fuel Era? • Most likely. The Energy Transition (9 min) • • Ø Ø Ø Time to look at alternative energy sources: Future of Renewable Energy (11 min) Wind Solar Tidal Geothermal Hydroelectric Nuclear

Electricity from Wind Turbines • Produces no by-products that are harmful to nature. • Harnessing the wind is dependent on weather and location. Normal wind velocity on Earth is approximately 9 miles/hour.

How Does it work? Wind Turbines (2 min)

Solar (key to a sustainable future) • Most resourceful source of energy for the future. Why? • The total energy Earth receives each year from the sun is around 35, 000 times the total energy used by man. • Idaho Power all Renewable by 2050

What is Biomass? • Through photosynthesis plants convert sunlight energy into chemical energy • Biomass is stored sunlight energy that can be converted to: Electricity Fuel Heat Fertilizer

Biomass Resources

• Biomass is available almost everywhere in the world • Good biomass energy resources have a high yield of dry material and use minimal land • Crops should generate more energy than their production consume • Biomass power sources are: – Renewable – Easily stored – CO 2 neutral (if harvested sustainably) Only gives off the amount of carbon used to grow

Biomass Harvesting; Processing - Transport to Bio. Energy Plant

History of Biodiesel at University of Idaho (5 min) Biodiesel and Agricultural Engineering Education in Idaho (3 min) Uses of Biomass Fuels Heat Combustion Electricity Anaerobic Digestion Biogas Fermentation Bio-Ethanol Chemicals Mechanical Oil Fuel Bio-Energy Plant Processing Bio-Energy Primary Products Bio-Energy Secondary Products Combustion: Electricity Combustion Heat Electricity

Uses of Biomass Fuels • Biomass can be burned in power plants to generate electricity • In combined Heat and Power systems, the waste heat energy is also used to heat water or nearby homes

Uses of Biomass Fuels Combustion: Heating & Cooking Combustion Heat Electricity . Wood can be burned to: Heat a house Prepare Food

Aerobic Digestion - Biogas Heat Anaerobic Digestion Biogas Electricity Fertilizer • • Biogas technology formalizes the natural decomposition process in the absence of oxygen = anaerobic digestion Biogas digester consist of one or more airtight reservoirs into which a suitable moist feedstock is placed Digesters can be big or small Compounds created: – Methane Gas = used for heating, cooking & electricity – Odorless slurry = excellent fertilizer

Fermentation: Biofuel Heat Fermentation Ethanol Electricity Chemicals Fuel

Uses of Biomass Fuels • • Biomass can be converted into liquid biofuels through fermentation Corn, Maize and sugar cane can be converted into: – – Ethanol a liquid biofuel Methane a gas Mechanical Processing: Biodiesel Heat Mechanical Processing Bio-oil Electricity Chemicals Transport fuel

Uses of Biomass Fuels Sunflower seed oil and soybean oil can be converted into biodiesel • These fuels are more effective than wood = a more concentrated energy source Concerns: • Effect of monocrops on nature? • Dare we use food for fuel?

Geothermal • Energy is obtained from the internal heat within Earth and is used to generate steam to run a steam turbine thus generating electricity.

Hydroelectric • Damming of rivers and utilizing the potential energy store in the water. Eventually the stored water is released under pressure whereby it turns turbine blades generating electricity.

Tidal • Using the natural motion of the tides to fill reservoirs, where arte then slowly discharged through electricity producing turbines.

Geothermal Energy

Geothermal Energy: Introduction • Geothermal energy- energy that comes from the ground; power extracted from heat stored in the earth – Geo: earth – Thermal: heat

Geothermal Energy Generation • • • Direct Small scale uses Heating homes Hot springs Greenhouse heating Food dehydration plants Agriculture – Crop drying – Milk pasteurization Electrical • Dry steam • Flash steam • Binary cycle

How Geothermal Works • Earth’s core heat water • Water converted to steam drives electrical generators • Area specific – Geothermal energy is localized

Dry Steam/Flash Steam/Binary Cycles • Each uses the heat from underground in some manner to generate energy • Different combinations of water temperatures create different effects • How Geothermal Energy Works

Earth Science Today • Geothermal Energy

Geothermal Energy: History • Used for bathing in Paleolithic times • Ancient Romans used it as a central heating system for bathing and heating homes and floors • 1892: America’s first district heating system was put into place

Geothermal Energy: History • 1960: Pacific Gas and Electric has first successful geothermal electric power plant in US at The Geysers – Turbine lasted more than 30 years

United States and Geothermal

United States and Geothermal • The US is now the world’s largest geothermal producer • Current bills are being processed to give research towards geothermal projects $500 million • Pushing large scale production

Boise & BSU Geothermal

Can Geothermal Energy run out? • 100% renewable • Earth’s core is always going to be heated • As long as there is a way to extract the energy from the heat, the energy will always be available

Environmental Effects/ Benefits • Remarkable difference of environmental effects compared to fossil fuels – Leaves almost no footprints • Most hardware used to extract geothermal energy is underground – Minimal use of surface (http: //www. geothermal. nau. edu/about/enviroment. shtml. Northern Arizona University. 2009 Oct 27)

Environmental Effects/Benefits Power Source Land Requirement (ac/m. W) Geothermal 1 -8 Nuclear 5 -10 Coal 19 • Easy to operate • Open up economy • Much more efficient use of land

• • • Environmental Effects/ Disadvantages Fluids drawn from the deep earth carry a mixture of gases Pollutants contribute to global warming and acid rain Construction of Plants can adversely affect land stability Sources may hold trace amounts of toxic chemicals/mineral deposits Loud Noises Initial start up cost (expensive) Operation Noise Level (d. Ba) Air drilling 85– 120 Mud drilling 80 Discharging wells after drilling Up to 120 (to remove drilling debris) Well testing 70– 110 Diesel engines (to operate compressors and provide electricity) 45– 55 Heavy machinery (e. g. , for earth moving during construction) Up to 90

What social/political problems are posed? Social Problems • Aesthetics Political Problems • Another funding avenue for government – Initial start up cost is costly • Regulation • Dispersion

Can production be enhanced in those areas already developed? • Yes the output is growing by 3: 1 every year – Plants are already improving their capacity factors – Normally, plants are built on edges of techtonic plates → allows geothermal energy extraction to be easier – The development of the binary cycle power plants and improvements in drilling and extraction technology allows geothermal systems to develop in a wider range

• Can production be developed in areas where geothermal is minimally developed? Areas with high Geothermal energy potential • Many “hot spots” have not even been hit yet • Ring of Fire: good hydrothermal resources • But with continuing research and deeper drilling abilities, these “hot spots” won’t even matter – Drills will be able to reach farther down to draw energy from any source, whether or not is developed or a “hot spot” (http: //www. geothermal. nau. edu/about/enviroment. shtml. Northern Arizona University. 2009 Oct 27)

Conclusion • Overall, geothermal appears to be a sound solution to energy needs • Geothermal energy has the ability to expand • Few environmental effects • Very cost efficient • Geothermal is RENEWABLE

NEXT Time … Nuclear Power

Nuclear Power

Nuclear Power Today • Provides almost 20% of world’s electricity (8% in U. S. ) • 69% of U. S. non-carbon electricity generation • More than 100 plants in U. S. – None built since the 1970 s • 200+ plants in the Europe – Leader is France • About 80% of its power from nuclear

Early History of Nuclear Power in the U. S.

Early Beginnings • Atomic Energy Commission established 1946 • construction of 1 st Experimental Breeder Reactor I ( EBR-1) in Idaho in 1949 • 1951, controlled, self-sustained, chain reaction was reached using uranium • Fission reactors – splitting of atoms • football sized core was created and kept at low power four months until December 20, 1951

• power increased until usable amount of electricity generated, lighting four light bulbs • introducing nuclear generated power for the first time • the town of Arco, Idaho became the world's first community to get its entire power supply from a nuclear reactor

Major Problems of Nuclear Energy: • Cost • Safety • Proliferation • Waste Disposal

Cost • More expensive than coal and natural gas

Safety • Public remains wary of nuclear power due to Chernobyl and three mile island accidents • Nuclear plants vulnerable to terrorist attacks • Safer, more efficient, and more secure plants planned for the future

Waste Disposal • Yucca mountain • Use breeder reactors instead • Alternative storage site

Yucca Mountain The Future of Nuclear Waste Storage

Current Waste Disposal • At this time, radioactive wastes are being stored at the Department of Energy ’s facilities around the country • High level wastes are stored in underground carbon or stainless steel tanks • Spent nuclear fuel is put in above-ground dry storage facilities and in water-filled pools

Yucca Mountain • Storage sites becoming full, waste may be transported to Yucca Mountain • Located on government land, about 100 miles northwest of Las Vegas in the Nevada desert • It is a 6 mile long, 1, 200 -foot high flat-topped volcanic ridge • Will be able to house 70, 000 tons of radioactive material