AESC 210 Quiz 2 Study Guide PDF

AESC 210 Study Guide #2 1. Globalization Understanding the concept of globalization and examples of globalization ○ “An ongoing process by which regional economies, societies, and cultures have become...

AESC 210 Study Guide #2 1. Globalization Understanding the concept of globalization and examples of globalization ○ “An ongoing process by which regional economies, societies, and cultures have become more integrated through a globe-spanning network of communication and expansion. Driven by a combination of economic, technological, sociocultural, political, and biological factors Is affected and affected by business/work organization, economics, socio-cultural resources, and the natural environment ○ Examples: Apple sources parts from 46 different countries (Economic) Global popularity of food like Sushi or fast-food chains like McDonalds (Cultural) International organizational bodies like NATO (Political) Investigating the social, ecological, and environmental pros and cons of globalization ○ Social Pros: Increased access to goods/services Enhanced opportunities for education/employment globally Greater cultural exchange and diversity Cons: Cultural homogenization leads to loss of local traditions Widens inequality as benefits of globalization are unevenly distributed ○ Ecological & Environmental Pros: Global collaboration on climate change initiatives (i.e. Paris Agreement) Increased access to renewable energy technologies Cons: Overexploitation of natural resources from increased demand Increased pollution/carbon emission from transportation/production Impacts of free trade agreements ○ Positive: Economic growth (reduction of tariffs facilitates cheaper goods/services) Job creation (access to larger markets encourages businesses to expand) Consumer benefits (wider variety of products and competitive pricing) ○ Negative:  AESC 210 Study Guide #2 Local Industry Struggles (domestic businesses can fail to compete with cheaper imports) Exploitation (companies might exploit cheap labor or environmental regulations in other certain countries) Dependence (countries can become overly reliant on others for key items) The role of technology on globalization ○ Communications (instant global interactions) ○ Logistics and Transport (containerization & faster shipping methods) ○ Digital Platforms (online shopping/distribution like Amazon) Accelerated spread of information/culture Strengthened international collaboration on science/technology 2. Resiliency of Social-Ecological Systems What does “complex adaptive system” mean? ○ Many interacting parts, non-linear relationships, feedback loops, emergent behavior, heterogenous goals ○ “Change, react, learn, reorganize” ○ “Elements & Connections” ○ It consists of interconnected and interdependent components that interact dynamically, allowing the system to adapt and evolve in response to changes. Components of the framework for analyzing social-ecological systems ○ ○ Resource systems (RS): Physical areas/ecosystems (i.e. forests) ○ Resource units (RU): Specific components of a system (i.e. trees) ○ Governance systems (GS): Rules, policies, institutions managing resources ○ Users (U): Individuals/communities interacting with the system ○ Interactions (I): Processes like cooperation, conflict, or resource usage ○ Outcomes (O): Impacts of interactions, such as resource sustainability/degradation ○ Social, economic, and political settings (S): Broader contexts influencing the system ○ Related ecosystems (ECO): How interconnected ecosystems interact  AESC 210 Study Guide #2 Definition of Resilience ○ “The capacity of a system to absorb disturbance and reorganize while undergoing change so as to still retain essentially the same function, structure, identity, and feedbacks Difference between “resilience” and “transformation” in systems ○ Resilience is a system’s ability to recover from disruptions and maintain its original structure. Transformation, on the other hand, is a fundamental reorganization of the system when the current configuration becomes unsustainable Role of “community engagement” in resilience planning and the “Spectrum of Engagement” ○ Local knowledge integration ○ Stakeholder involvement ○ Inclusive decision-making ○ Building trust and partnerships ○ Understanding what the community members value ○ Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) ○ A decision-making tool to evaluate and prioritize options based on multiple criteria i. Define the decision context/objectives ii. Identify possible alternatives iii. Establish evaluation criteria (i.e. ecological impact) iv. Weight criteria based on importance v. Score alternatives for each criterion vi. Aggregate scores to determine the best choice 3. Food Understanding how to apply the “Socio-Behavioral Policy Analysis Framework” in food system examples  AESC 210 Study Guide #2 ○ Emphasizes understanding human behaviors and social dynamics to inform policy design ○ Involves analyzing the interactions among individuals, communities, institutions, and environmental factors to address challenges like food security and sustainability i. Identify Behavioral Context Examine the behaviors of farmers, consumers, and policymakers (i.e. sustainable farming practices/food waste reduction) ii. Analyze Influencing Factors Social Factors: Cultural food preferences & community norms Economic Factors: Access to affordable food/resources Environmental Factors: Soil quality, climate conditions, etc. Policy Factors: Subsidies, trade regulations, etc. iii. Develop Interventions iv. Monitor and Adapt (feedback mechanisms to assess policy effectiveness) ○ Example: Reducing food waste in urban areas i. Behavioral analysis might reveal a lack of awareness as a key driver (address with public campaigns like food sharing) Examples of two rule-based approaches ○ Practice-based i. “Require farmers to adopt a specific practice or set of practices to reduce nutrient exports from the farm” I.e. Requiring farmers to adopt no-till farming techniques to reduce soil erosion Prescriptive and easy to monitor, but stifle creativity/adaptability ○ Performance-based i. “Rules specify a numeric limit for units of nitrogen or phosphorus that leave the farm system” I.e. Setting a target to reduce soil erosion by 30% without specifying how farmers must achieve it Incentivize innovation/local problem-solving, but demand more resources for measurement and enforcement What are the two main considerations for adaptive planning? ○ Uncertainty and Extremes i. Plans should account for unpredictable events so food systems remain functional despite variability and disruptions ○ Local Conditions and Updating Knowledge i. Rooted in specific environmental, social, and economic context of the area. Solutions are sensitive to these factors and evolve as conditions change  AESC 210 Study Guide #2 4. Energy Renewable and non-renewable sources of energy and how they generate power Benefits and drawbacks of renewable and non-renewable sources of energy ○ General Cases Renewable: Pros: Environmentally friendly, sustainable, and creates jobs in emerging industries Cons: Intermittency, high upfront costs, and land use concerns (damages ecosystems and creates public disturbances) Non-renewable: Pros: Reliable/consistent output, existing infrastructure supports widespread use, and high energy density Cons: Greenhouse gas emissions/pollution, finite resources, and safety risks (i.e. oil spills) ○ Renewable Solar Energy Captures photons from sunlight using photovoltaic cells and then breaks electrons free to be then made into a current which is led to an inverter converting it to DC (direct current) or alternating current (AC) Pros: Abundant/inexhaustible, no greenhouse gas emission during operation, low operating costs, and scalable for application Cons: Intermittent with sunlight availability and high upfront costs Wind Energy Wind blows over rotor blades creating revolving which turns a generator in the turbine’s torque shaft and thereby is converted into electricity where it will travel to a transformer to be adjusted for the power lines Pros: No direct emissions, high energy efficiency, and low operating costs Cons: Intermittent with wind availability, noise impacts, and risk of bird/bat collision Hydropower Water stored in a reservoir is released through an intake at a high pressure where the flowing water turns the turbines, producing electricity from the connected generators (water then flows back into the below river) Pros: Reliable/consistent energy production and no direct emissions  AESC 210 Study Guide #2 Cons: Alters ecosystems (i.e. disrupts fish migration), high upfront costs, vulnerable to droughts, and limited by sources of water Biomass Energy First-generation biofuels are made from sugar, starch, etc. using conventional methods. Second-generation biofuels are made from non-food crops (i.e. cellulose). Third-generation biofuels are made from algae. Techniques include fermentation/polymerization which are then processed for use until their end biodegradation Pros: Utilizes organic waste (reduces landfills), carbon-neutral, versatile (produces electricity, heat, and biofuels), low-input but high yields (algae produces 30x more energy per acre than land crops) Cons: Air pollution from combustion and deforestation/land-use changes Geothermal Energy Heat is extracted from underground sources to warm buildings and generate electricity using steam turbines connected to generators Pros: Consistent/reliable energy source (earth is a virtually infinite heat source w/ constant predictable temperature), small land footprint, and low greenhouse gas emissions Cons: Limited to regions with geothermal reservoirs, high upfront costs, and potential for minor seismic activity due to drilling Nuclear Energy Nuclear fission is the most common method. All utility-scale reactors heat water to produce steam to be converted into mechanical work for generating electricity or propulsion where enriched uranium is used as fuel. Within the nuclear cycle, atoms are split in a controlled chain reaction which generates heat Pros: Reliable/consistent baseload power, low greenhouse gas emissions during operations, high energy density, and 95% of spent fuel can be recycled for usage in power plants Cons: Risk of catastrophic accidents, long-term storage of radioactive waste is unresolved, high construction/decommissioning costs, and limited public acceptance ○ Non-renewable Coal Coal is mined and then crushed into a fine powder which is burned in furnaces where the heat boils water producing steam and thereby electricity from turbine generators  AESC 210 Study Guide #2 Pros: Reliable/consistent baseload power, widely used in many regions, and low maintenance Cons: Slow to start, biggest greenhouse gas producer, health hazards for workers, and is finite Oil/Petroleum Crude oil is refined into fuels (gasoline diesel, kerosene, etc.) where it is either burned to heat water into steam to generate electricity or in internal combustion engines Pros: High energy density (efficient for transportation), versatile for use, and has established infrastructure Cons: High greenhouse gas emissions, price volatility due to geopolitical factors, and a depleting resource Natural Gas Hydraulic fracturing (“fracking”) is used to break up underground rock formations to release gas which will flow and be collected in pipelines to be burned in a gas turbine to generate electricity Pros: Relatively cleaner than coal/oil, highly efficient, and flexible for baseload/peaking power Cons: Methane leaks contribute to climate change, environmental risks from fracking (i.e. groundwater contamination) and is finite Reasons why certain types of power generation are chosen (baseload vs. peaking, reliability) ○ Baseload Power Generation Constant/reliable supply of electricity Typically generated by coal (primarily), nuclear, or hydro plants due to their steady output capabilities ○ Peaking Power Generation Activated during high-demand periods (i.e. hot summer afternoons) Often supplied by natural gas or hydro plants as they can quickly adjust output ○ In regards to reliability, renewable sources (like solar and wind) are intermittent with weather/daylight, and thus non-renewable sources tend to be favored, despite environmental detriments, because of their ease 5. Water The water cycle and how water can be removed from the water cycle (overdrawing, translocating, degradation) ○ Water Cycle Evaporation: Water from oceans, rivers, and lakes turns into vapor due to solar heat. Condensation: Water vapor cools to form clouds.  AESC 210 Study Guide #2 Precipitation: Rain, snow, sleet, or hail falls back to the Earth. Infiltration: Water soaks into the soil, replenishing groundwater aquifers. Runoff: Water flows over land into rivers, lakes, and oceans. Transpiration: Plants release water vapor into the atmosphere. ○ Removal of Water Overdrawing Groundwater Extraction: Excessive pumping of aquifers can reduce underground reserves faster than they can replenish Surface Water Extraction: Diverting rivers for irrigation or urban use lowers water levels, reducing availability downstream Translocating: Moving water between regions alters local water cycles disrupting ecosystems that depend on natural flows (i.e. Colorado River diversion to Las Vegas) Degradation: Pollution: Contamination from industrial waste, agricultural runoff (fertilizers/eutrophication), or untreated sewage reduces water quality Climate Change: Alters precipitation patterns, leading to prolonged droughts or flooding Land Use Changes: Urbanization reduces infiltration and groundwater recharge. Deforestation affected transpiration and local rainfall Why drinking water treatment and wastewater treatment is necessary ○ Ensures water is safe for consumption ○ Treatment Process Coagulation and Flocculation: Chemicals added to bind particles together Sedimentation: Particles settle to the bottom of tanks Filtration: Removes smaller particles, bacteria, and pathogens Disinfection: Adds chlorine or UV light to kill remaining microorganisms ○ Necessity Protects ecosystems by preventing pollution Reduces health risks (removes natural contaminants, prevents waterborne diseases, meets regulatory standards for safe drinking water) Conserves water by enabling safe reuse The food-energy-water nexus diagram:  AESC 210 Study Guide #2 ○ 6. Project 4 Lecture How to calculate the expected values and variance for a single die and a set of N rolls *Below shows the results for “1” roll ○ For a fair six-sided die, the outcomes are 1,2,3,4,5,6 each with equal probability, meaning a ⅙ chance for each result (scales linearly with the number of rolls) ○ Variance is calculated by multiplying the probability by the squared deviations of each outcome by the mean) Mean (μ) = ⅙*(1+2+3+4+5+6) = 21/6 = 3.5 Variance = SUM(P(x)*(x-μ)^2) Varaince = ⅙*[(1-3.5)^2+(2-3.5)^2+(3-3.5)^2+(4-3.5)^2+(5-3.5)^2+(6-3.5)^2] = 17.5/6 ≈ 2.9167 *To each respective part above inside of the “[]” there is technically a “*1” from each respective projected outcome For “N rolls” just times to the mean and variance respectively??? This could be for a constant set… In regards to different set outcomes, this would be found by averaging the variance by adding them all together and then dividing by the sets (“possibly”)??? How to calculate the expected values and variance for two dice and a set of N rolls ○ For TWO dice (that are FAIR), results range from 2 to 12, creating a new probability distribution (will have a total of 36 possible outcomes; ⅙ * ⅙ = 1/36): (I.e. 1,1 = “2” possible outcomes; 1,5 & 2,4 & 3,3 & 4,2 & 5,1 = “5” possible outcomes)  AESC 210 Study Guide #2 Mean (μ) = 1/36*(2*1+3*2+4*3+5*4+6*5+7*6+8*5+9*4+10*3+11*2+12*1) = 256/36 = 7 ^^^ Probability of the outcome * total(sum of die*chance of occurring) Variance = 1/36*[1*(2-7)^2+2*(3-7)^2+3*(4-7)^2)+...+1*(12-7)^2)] = 5.8333 Follow the same rules as above for “a set of N Rolls” 7. Project 5 Lecture How to analyze histograms and normal distributions ○ ○  AESC 210 Study Guide #2 8. Project 6 & Wrap-Up Lectures Application of queuing systems in engineering ○ Queuing systems are mathematical models used to analyze and optimize processes where resources are shared among users Telecommunication and Networks (i.e. call centers and internet traffic) Manufacturing Line (i.e. efficient workflows in assembly lines) Transportation Systems (i.e. traffic flow at toll booths or intersections) Service Industry (i.e. Banks, restaurants, etc.) Stock and flow diagram for a queuing system ○ ○