Energy Resources PDF

ENERGY AND RESOURCES Differentiate renewable and non-renewable resources. OBJECTIVES Explain the different types of resources. Discuss the ecological effect of the use of resources. BELL WORK Interpret this poster.  Nonrenewable and Renewable Energy Resou...

ENERGY AND RESOURCES Differentiate renewable and non-renewable resources. OBJECTIVES Explain the different types of resources. Discuss the ecological effect of the use of resources. BELL WORK Interpret this poster.  Nonrenewable and Renewable Energy Resources Nonrenewable Resource anatural resource that cannot be re-made or re-grown at a scale comparable to its consumption a finite resource 1. Nuclear Energy generated using Uranium, which is a metal mined in various parts of the world produces around 11% of the world's energy needs anonrenewable resource because once the uranium is used, it is gone How Nuclear Power Works  Nuclear fission makes heat > heated water makes steam > steam turns turbines > turbines turn generators > electrical power is sent around the country.  Reactor uses uranium rods as fuel and heat is generated by fission.  Advantages of Nuclear Energy Nuclear power costs about the same as coal, so it's not expensive to make. Produces huge amounts of energy from small amounts of fuel Produces small amounts of waste Nuclear power is reliable. Disadvantages of Nuclear Energy Although not much waste is produced, it is very, very dangerous and toxic to handle. Itmust be sealed up and buried for many years to allow the radioactivity to die away. Harmful radioactive waste is created. Uranium supplies may only last for another 50 years. Radiation may cause cancer 2. Fossil Fuels formed from the fossilized remains of prehistoric plants and animals They provide around 66% of the world's electrical power, and 95% of the world's total energy demands 2.1 Coal formed from plant material that has been subjected to heat and pressure provides around 28% of our energy How is coal made?  2.2 Oil/Petroleum formed from the remains of marine animals and plants that lived millions of years ago that accumulated on the sea bottom and went through geologic forces formation formed when layers of decomposing organic materials are exposed to higher temperature and pressures generated within Earth oil provides 40% of our energy How is oil made? 2.3 Natural Gas provides 20% of the world’s energy consumption formed when layers of decomposing organic materials are exposed to higher temperature and pressures generated within Earth theexposure causes a change in the composition of organic materials into lighter, more volatile hydrocarbon gas, instead of having a liquid form common example methane How is natural gas made?  What are the similarities and differences among coal, oil, and gas? Advantages of Fossil Fuels Verylarge amounts of electricity can be generated in one place using coal, fairly cheaply. Transporting oil and gas to the power stations is easy. Gas-fired power stations are very effi cient. A fossil-fuel power station can be built almost anywhere Disadvantages of Fossil Fuels The main drawback of fossil fuels is pollution. Burningfossil fuels produces carbon dioxide, which contributes to the "greenhouse effect", warming the Earth Burning coal produces sulfur dioxide, a gas that contributes to acid rain. Mining coal can be diffi cult and dangerous. Strip mining destroys large areas of the landscape. Renewable Resource canbe replenished in a short period of time 1. Solar Energy the converted energy derived from the sun Advantages of Solar Energy Solar energy is free - it needs no fuel and produces no waste or pollution. Insunny countries, solar power can be used where there is no easy way to get electricity to a remote place. Handy for low-power uses such as solar powered garden lights and battery chargers. Disadvantages of Solar Energy Doesn't work at night. Very expensive to build solar power stations. Solar cells cost a great deal compared to the amount of electricity they'll produce in their lifetime. Can be unreliable unless you're in a very sunny climate/long periods of weather with sun. 2. Hydroelectric Energy the energy obtained from converting the kinetic energy of fast moving water into energy Hydroelectricity provides 20% of the world’s power Advantages of Hydroelectricity Once the dam is built, the energy is virtually free. No waste or pollution produced. Watercan be stored above the dam ready to cope with peaks in demand. Hydroelectricpower stations can increase to full power very quickly, unlike other power stations. Electricity can be generated constantly Disadvantages of Hydroelectricity The dams are very expensive to build. Building a large dam will fl ood a very large area upstream, causing problems for animals that used to live there. Findinga suitable site can be diffi cult - the impact on residents and the environment may be unacceptable. Water quality and quantity downstream can be affected, which can have an impact on plant life. 3. Wind Energy the energy harnessed from the fl ow of the air can be harnessed in wide open spaces where the wind is strong, such as along seashores, deserts and mountain tops Advantages of Wind Energy Wind is free, wind farms need no fuel. Produces no waste or greenhouse gases. The land beneath can usually still be used for farming. Wind farms can be tourist attractions. A good method of supplying energy to remote areas. Energy can be stored temporarily.  Disadvantages of Wind Energy The wind is not always predictable some days have no wind. Suitable areas for wind farms are often near the coast, where land is expensive. Some people feel that covering the landscape with these towers is unsightly. Can kill birds - migrating fl ocks tend to like strong winds. Splat! Can affect television reception if you live nearby. Noisy. A wind generator makes a constant, low, "swooshing" noise day and night. 4. Geothermal Energy the energy harnessed from the heat coming from within the Earth the resources of heat range from the shallow ground to hot water and hot rocks a few miles beneath Earth’s surface and down to the extremely high temperatures of molten rock or magma Advantages of Geothermal Energy The power stations do not take up much room, so there is not much impact on the environment. No fuel is needed. Once you've built a geothermal power station, the energy is almost free Disadvantages of Geothermal Energy Need to actually be close to it for using it and you have to drill down to get to the energy. Sometimesa geothermal site may "run out of steam", perhaps for decades. Hazardousgases and minerals may come up from underground, and can be diffi cult to work with. 5. Biomass refers to biological or plant and animal materials used as fuel for the generation of electricity, other forms of fuel and heat Sources of biomass : food waste, wood, solid wastes, crop residues, animal wastes, fuel crops Advantages of Biomass The use natural waste materials The fuel tends to be cheap Less demand on the Earth's resources Disadvantages of Biomass Collecting the waste in suffi cient quantities can be diffi cult. We burn the fuel, so it makes greenhouse gases. Some waste materials are not available all year round. 6. Soil Resources Soil is the uppermost layer of the Earth. Originates from parent rock and contains both organic and inorganic substances. Soil Composition 45% mineral particles (broken down pieces of rock) 5%organic matter (humus – from dead organisms, worm casting, leaf litter) 25% water (precipitation) 25% air (more with sandy soil, less with clay soil)  Soil Horizons A soil horizon is approximately parallel to the surface, having distinct characteristics produced by soil forming processes. Soilhorizons are used to classify the soil and make interpretations about its quality and stability. O-Horizon Organic layers of decaying plant and animal tissues. Typically within a woodland area there are three distinct organic layers: 1. Leaves, needles and twigs (Oi) 2. Partially decomposed layer (Oe) 3. Dark layer of decomposed humus (Oa) A-Horizon Amineral horizon at or near the surface in which an accumulation of humified organic matter is mixed with mineral material. E-Horizons A horizon in the upper part of the soil. It is light colored. The light color is due to the natural color of the dominant quartz and sand grains.  B- Horizons (Subsoil) Copyright, legal, version number? Horizons which are dominated by the obliteration of all or much of the original rock structure. Contain concentrations of clay, iron, aluminum, humus, gypsum, silica, and other minerals. C-Horizons (Substratum) Hardly affected by the soil forming processes and have changed very little since the time they were deposited. Thislayer lacks color, however, geologic layering or strata (layers of rocks) is often present.  R-Horizons Horizons containing hard bedrock. Typically requires large machinery to break through. Common R-Horizon materials consist of granite, basalt, quartzite, limestone and sandstone. Importance of Soil Resources providing a range of ecosystem services / soil biodiversity nutrient cycling water cycling structural support of vegetation