Zara Adamson - L1 - Renewable resources PDF

Vocabulary List for Module 8 Renewable energy derived from natural sources that are replenished at a higher rate than they are consumed Natural resource the resources that exist on Earth independent of human actions. Non-renewable a s...

Vocabulary List for Module 8 Renewable energy derived from natural sources that are replenished at a higher rate than they are consumed Natural resource the resources that exist on Earth independent of human actions. Non-renewable a substance that is used up more quickly than it can replace itself. resource extraction the process of removing or obtaining something from somewhere waste a product or substance which is no longer suited for its intended use Ecological measures the rate at which resources are consumed and wastes are generated. footprint infrastructure basic physical and organizational structures needed for the operation of a society or enterprise, or the services and facilities necessary for an economy to function. recyclable the process of converting waste materials into new materials and objects biodegradable the ability of a material to decompose after interactions with biological elements sustainability the study of the dynamic relationship between humans and the environment habitat the natural home or environment of a plant, animal, or other organism pollution when an amount of any substance or any form of energy is put into the environment at a rate faster than it can be dispersed or safely stored initiative an introductory or step Inquiry Question 1: How are Australia’s natural resources extracted, used and managed? ​ Identify Australian renewable resources and where they are located, including but not limited to: -Agricultural resources: terrestrial and aquatic  -energy sources A resource is something that can be used to provide a human need. Some resources are replenished regularly and rapidly and others are part of natural cycles that take millions of years. Non-renewable Resources Are those that are not able to replace themselves, once used, they are gone. 5 Examples: Coal, oil, gas, nuclear energy, iron Renewable Resources Renewable resources are those that can be replaced, mostly by natural means. 5 Examples: Water, plants, wind, wood, Workbook Activity 1: Complete the mind map of Australian renewable resources Agricultural Resources - Terrestrial -​ Farming has a value of $60 Billion. -​ Farmers export 77% of what they grow and produce. -​ Farm exports contribute $44.8 Billion to the economy. -​ Any job that is linked to agriculture eg food and fibre industries make 1.6 million Australian jobs. List 10 things you think we farm the most of. cattle, fisheries, wheat, coarse grains, fruits, nuts, sheep, The nature of the land use is closely related to the geology, terrain and biomes of the location. Workbook Activity 2: 5 observations from the map of Australia Agricultural resources - Aquatic -​ Aquaculture is the name given to farming aquatic animals and plants for food. -​ Australia produces 230,000 tonnes of seafood a year. -​ Fisheries and aquaculture contribute $2.4 billion to the economy each year. -​ Australia exports $1.2 billion of seafood a year. -​ There is evidence that indigenous Australians farmed eels for 6000 years. -​ Now, many aquatic organisms are farmed in salt water cages in the ocean, fresh water tanks or ponds on land. -​ Aquatic plants used are Kelp, which has to be wild harvested. Microalgae is grown to feed growing fish in aquaculture. Name some aquaculture produced organisms: prawns, tuna, pearls, crabs, eels, oysters, lobsters Research Task 1: Complete the following table Complete the table to outline renewable resources found in Australia. Resource Use Location (describe in detail) Agricultural Rice is used for nutrition and contains a Australian rice is grown in the Name: rice lot of fibre, protein, iron etc. giving it a Murrumbidgee and Murray Valleys of vital role against malnutrition. It is used southern New South Wales. It is also within many different meals. grown in parts of northern Victoria and Queensland. Agricultural Wheat is used within many different foods The largest production of wheat comes Name: wheat such as cereals, pasta, bread, sauces, and from Western Australia with it making up confectionery. A large majority of people 65% of annual wheat production. However, on Earth have an intolerance to wheat or wheat is also grown in NSW, SA, gluten leading to the creation of gluten Queensland and Victoria. free foods. Agricultural Sugar is also a common ingredient in About 95% of sugar is produced in Name: sugar foods consumed on a daily. It is also often Queensland with the rest of sugar used in medicine to increase the flavour of production being located in Northern New it South Wales. Aquaculture & Southern Bluefin tuna is a common fish Southern Bluefin tuna can be fished fisheries species that is eaten across the globe. It is around the entirety of the Australian coast. Name: Southern mostly eaten in the form of sushi or It is most commonly caught off the New Bluefin tuna sashimi. South Wales coastline. Aquaculture & Not only can oysters be eaten, the shells Oysters are mostly fished in NSW due to it fisheries have a variety of uses including cement having over 280 oyster farming businesses. Name: Oysters production, glass making and cosmetics. Workbook Activity 3: Use the table to make a graph showing the Gross Value of Production for the years 2012-18.  Water as a resource Australia is the driest inhabited continent in the world. Largely because of this, it is also the continent that consumes the most water. Our agricultural sector uses the most, while residential consumption uses the least water.​ Water supply in Australia is generally of good quality, but it is also extremely vulnerable due to the threat of droughts, which result in low rainfall, disappearing rivers and a reduction in dam water levels. As Australia’s main water supply comes from reservoirs, droughts leave our water supply in extreme danger. Water consumption  The availability of water depends on the climate of a particular region of Australia, as well as climatic phenomena such as droughts and El Nino and La Nina events. AUSTRALIA’S WATER SOURCES As the Australian governments become more aware and proactive concerning the issue of climate change, a greater awareness of water sources and their various uses is developing. Improvements in water extraction and conversion techniques mean that seawater has become a much bigger part of water supply solutions here. RIVERS AND RESERVOIRS Rivers and reservoirs provide water for drinking, agriculture, industry, recreation, and tourism. They also support many hundreds of ecosystems throughout the country. STORM WATER Storm water is often used to supply water for agriculture, field irrigation, and non-drinkable uses like toilet flushing. Harvesting and reusing stormwater can: ​ Support sustainable water resources ​ Improve and protect natural water sources like the sea and rivers ​ Support flood mitigation Because of the tremendous benefits of recycling stormwater, the state has placed a huge emphasis on researching and improving stormwater recycling techniques.​ WASTEWATER Some areas of water management in Australia are still overused, although ecological improvements have meant that much of the water consumed is recycled efficiently. Wastewater can be treated and recycled so that it can be used in many ways, similar to those which stormwater is used for. GROUNDWATER Groundwater is water that comes from underneath the surface of the earth. As time passes, water travels through the ground and remains in soil and rocks. Groundwater can be found in huge amounts, filling tiny spaces between holes in porous rocks and soil. It flows through the soil and rocks over time and connects to natural waterways. Throughout its journey, groundwater supplies water to important plant and animal ecosystems. Much of the groundwater that moves through this path is thousands of years old. Nearly 100% of the freshwater available to us on Earth comes from groundwater. And around a third of Australia’s water consumption is derived from groundwater. In many areas of Australia, particularly the driest areas, groundwater is the sole water supply. In some areas groundwater comes to the surface naturally, making it easier to collect. It is important that these natural collections of groundwater – streams, springs, and rivers – are protected so that they remain as buffers if drought affects larger water sources. Groundwater is a renewable resource, but it can become unusable if it is polluted or contaminated beyond treatment. The threat of droughts, arguably linked to climate change, has resulted in a huge effort towards water conservation throughout the country. In fact, many areas now have strict water restrictions in place throughout the year. DAMS Dams ensure that water is available for human uses. Sydney uses around 600GL of water per year. Dams ensure it is available. It has been recently recognised that “environmental flows” release of water from dams is required to ensure habitats downstream of the dam are provide with water, to reduce aquatic problems like algae blooms and improve river health.  Summarise: Types of water sources Source Description Provides water for… Rivers and A reservoir is an artificial lake used reservoirs for water storage, most are formed by …drinking, agriculture, industry, constructing dams across rivers. recreation, and tourism Stormwater Stormwater is the water resulting from rain running into the stormwater systems, most likely from man made … agriculture, field irrigation, and surfaces such as roofs and roads. non-drinkable uses like toilet flushing. Wastewater Wastewater refers to water that has been previously used within communities, agricultural locations …homes, businesses, industrial and industrial locations. workplaces, agricultural locations Groundwater Groundwater comes from under the surface of the Earth or the ground. The water travels through the ground … towns, industries and irrigators and in between the rocks and soil. Dams A dam is a man-made barrier that … irrigation, flood mitigation and town stops or limits the flow of water water supply and/or underground streams Managing water supplies Managing the water supply for a city of more than 5 million like Sydney is difficult. Floods and droughts are common. Along with heat, they affect the quality of water reaching homes. Depending on the seasons, water has to be taken from dams at different levels to help maintain water quality, and water has to be moved between dams. It is now recognised that water must be released from dams to maintain the environmental quality along a river. Environmental flows such as shown in the diagram below can help with: -​ Protecting ecosystems, reducing weeds and frequency of algal blooms -​ Improve river health so it is suitable for use in towns along the river -​ Improve conditions for native fish, frogs, birds etc especially those that depend on changes of flow to trigger migration and breeding The Murray Darling Basin The biggest and most intensely used water supply in Australia is the Murray-Darling river system which covers more than 1 million square kilometres. Managing this system is a major task. Not only do the irrigation needs of farmers need to be considered, but also environmental flows, the needs of towns and recreational users. Workbook Activity 4: 1.​ Water as a resource questions 2.​ Complete the exam style questions  Energy Sources Renewable energy sources make about 18% of Australia’s total energy consumption. Lesson continues over the page Research : Types of renewable energy Research the following types of renewable energy’s and complete the table. Type of Renewable Description of How it Advantages Disadvantages Where it Needs to Energy Works be Located (refer to the map on previous page) Tidal Power Tidal power works The density of water in Despite the effectiveness Tidal power must be through the use of tidal comparison to wind of tidal power, the initial produced within an turbines. These are makes the use of tidal construction cost is ocean due to the turbines located in the power more powerful and extremely high. dependency on the ocean which spin when effective than wind or The movement of the tides and waves within the tides change and solar. turbines disturbs the the ocean. Within water moves past the Additionally, tidal power migration of aquatic Australia, there are tidal turbine. The movement produces no greenhouse animals. power production of the turbine is gases or waste making it The production of tidal locations at the tip of transferred to a a beneficial, renewable power is also limited to Queensland, the north generator that converts energy. specific locations. coast of Western the movement energy Australia and the east into electricity. coast of Queensland. Wave Energy Wave energy is similar Wave energy is a clean However, wave energy Wave energy devices to tidal energy but is energy resource and devices have limited are required to be more reliant on the pollution free. locations as to be placed in an oceanic wind's interaction with It is relatively consistent effectively used, the location with consistent the ocean surface. Wave and predictable with help device must be placed in waves. These can be power converts the up of weather forecasts. an oceanic location with found along the south and down movement of It also presents no consistent waves. coast of Australia due waves through the use barriers or difficulty to Additionally, the process to the strength and of equipment that is migrating aquatic animals of sending the generated consistency of the placed on the surface of such as fish. power to the land, using waves and winds in this the ocean. This captures underwater cables, is location. the produced energy associated with higher and converts this power distribution costs. mechanical energy into electrical power. Wind Energy Wind energy refers to Wind energy reduces Despite the wide range of There are many wind the use of wind turbines both the use of fossil locations for wind turbines, farms within Australia, in order to create fuels and energy imports. they are often stationed in mostly located within renewable energy. The remote locations due to remote areas. As of wind turbines are reliant Additionally, wind is not the large area they September 2024, there on wind to circulate the limited to one location require. were 90 operational propeller-like blades. making the production of wind farms including This initiates the wind energy easier than Wind energy also causes the Sapphire Wind generator to spin, other sources of noise and visual pollution Farm in New South creating electricity. renewable energy. but is of a lesser harm Wales. than other factors regarded with other renewable energy sources. Solar Energy Solar energy is Solar energy is However, the initial cost of Solar energy is produced through the low-maintenance, installation can be produced across the use of solar panels in reduces the electrical expensive, and the entirety of Australia, which energy from the bills, and is clean/green production of energy is from remote solar farms sunlight is absorbed in energy. Additionally it is restricted to the daytime to roofs on households. the panel. This energy not dependent on other due to the dependence on creates electrical sources of energy sunlight. charges that move in making it easier to use. response to an internal electrical field causing electricity to flow. Geothermal Energy Geothermal energy uses One advantage of A disadvantage is that In Australia, geothermal heat from beneath the geothermal energy is its geothermal plants have energy projects have Earth's surface, created sustainability, as the heat high initial costs due to been explored at the by the natural decay of source is continuously drilling and plant Cooper Basin in South minerals. Wells are replenished by the Earth. construction. Another Australia. This area has drilled into underground Additionally, geothermal drawback is that shown potential due to reservoirs to bring this energy produces minimal geothermal energy is its hot dry rocks, which heat to the surface. The greenhouse gas location-dependent, only could provide a heat, in the form of emissions compared to feasible in areas with sustainable heat source steam or hot water, fossil fuels, making it an accessible geothermal for generating powers turbines to environmentally friendly reservoirs, limiting its electricity. generate electricity or is energy option. widespread use. used directly for heating. Hydrogen One major advantage of A significant disadvantage In Australia, hydrogen Hydrogen is the lightest hydrogen is its potential of hydrogen is the high is actively being and most abundant as a clean energy cost of production, as developed at the element in the universe, source, emitting only generating pure hydrogen Hydrogen Park South commonly used as a water vapor when used in often requires Australia in Adelaide. clean fuel. It produces fuel cells, which helps energy-intensive This project, located in energy through chemical reduce greenhouse gas processes like electrolysis. Tonsley, South reactions, mainly in fuel emissions. Additionally, Another drawback is Australia, produces cells where hydrogen hydrogen is highly storage and transport renewable hydrogen gas reacts with oxygen versatile and can be used challenges due to its low through electrolysis and to generate electricity, in fuel cells for vehicles, density, requiring high blends it with natural emitting only water as a heating, electricity pressure or very low gas for residential byproduct. production. temperatures to store heating efficiently. Biogas Biogas is made through One advantage of biogas A disadvantage of biogas In Australia, biogas is anaerobic digestion, is that it reduces production is its reliance used at the Jandakot where bacteria break greenhouse gas on a steady supply of Renewable Energy down organic materials emissions by capturing organic waste, which may Facility in Western like food waste and methane, which would be limited in some regions Australia, which manure without oxygen. otherwise escape into the or seasons. Additionally, processes organic This process creates atmosphere from initial setup costs for waste from the Perth gases, mainly methane decomposing organic biogas plants can be high, metropolitan area to and carbon dioxide, waste. Another benefit is posing a financial barrier produce renewable which can be captured its role in waste for smaller communities or energy and reduce and used as renewable management, as biogas individual farmers landfill waste. energy. Biogas can production repurposes interested in biogas power cooking, heating, organic waste, reducing systems. or electricity, and the landfill usage and leftover material can be minimizing pollution. used as a fertilizer. I have: ​ Completed all activities for this lesson ​ Textbook: EES in Focus p. 297-302 Spotlight: p 223-228 ​ Submitted to Google Classroom ​ Created my study notes for this lesson