ENVS 324 FINAL STUDY GUIDE

Why can one not compare solar and wind power to fossil fuels in terms of energy density? a. No mass is consumed when using solar or wind power to produce electricity. b. Solar and wind power are intermittent unlike fossil fuels. c. EROI values of wind and solar are below the economic threshold of 7. d. The area occupied by a solar or wind installation can be co-opted for other purposes.

a. No mass is consumed when using solar or wind power to produce electricity.

Given that the Earth's surface encounters incoming solar radiation at a rate of 184 W/m2 and, on average, reflects 12% back into outer space, what is the average emissivity of Earth's surface? a. 88% or 0.88 b. 12% or 0.12 c. 100% or 1.0 d. 93% or 0.93

a. 88% or 0.88

What is PM2.5? a. Airborne particulate matter that has a diameter less than 2.5 microns. b. None of the answer options are correct. c. Airborne particulate matter that has a diameter between 2.5 and 10 microns. d. The EPA drinking water standard for molybdenum concentrations.

a. Airborne particulate matter that has a diameter less than 2.5 microns.

Read the following statement very carefully and determine if it is True or False. Multiple fluids may travel upward through an oil and natural gas well and "leak" into sources of drinking water. These fluids include hydrocarbons from the reservoir rock, methane from shallow sources, and salt-rich formation water. a. Natural Gas Window b. Oil Window c. Kerogen Window d. Graphite Window

a. Natural Gas Window

Naturally acidic (pH < 7) and alkaline (pH > 7) soils are both negatively impacted by acid deposition but to different extents. Explain the differential impact by describing the chemical processes within each soil type when exposed to acid deposition. (3 points) Why is plant growth and productivity much lower in naturally acidic soils, relative to alkaline soils, when exposed to acid deposition? (1 point)

Both acidic and alkaline soils experience enhanced nutrient leaching when exposed to acid deposition. In acidic soils, there are no buffers that prevent the pH from decreasing to a level that dissolves and mobilizes aluminum. Aluminum hinders root growth and uptake of already depleted soil nutrients.

Exam 1

Following Questions are from Exam 1 practice

Exam 2

Following Questions are from Exam 2 practice

Exam 3

Following Questions are from Exam 3 practice

We used a two-layer climate model (shown above) to test hypotheses concerning the increase in the average global surface temperature over the last century. Our model had several parameters, including: ea = emissivity of the atmosphere with respect to infrared (long-wave) radiation Ta = temperature of the atmosphere Ts = temperature of the surface Pout = rate of energy radiated into outer space Questions: If Hypothesis 1 is that enhanced greenhouse conditions caused the observed 1oC increase in the surface temperature, which two parameters above should be modified to test this hypothesis? (1 point). If Hypothesis 2 is that an increase in solar radiation caused the observed 1oC increase in the surface temperature, which two parameters above should be modified to test this hypothesis? (1 point). Explain your rationale (2 points).

Hypothesis 1 - need to modify emissivity of the atmosphere and the surface temperature. We modify the greenhouse effect by increasing the proportion of infrared radiation absorbed and re-emitted by the atmosphere. We also need to increase the surface temp by 1 degree Celsius to match empirical measurements. Hypothesis 2 - modify P-out and temperature of the surface. Again, need to increase surface temp to match measurement. The energy budget of our planet must be balanced (P-in = P-out). So, if the rate of incoming solar radiation increase (P-in), then P-out must increase, too.

Mountaintop removal mining + valley fill (MTM/VF) techniques pose environmental hazards for aquatic ecosystems that should be taken into account when issuing mining permits and regulating the reclamation process. Describe at least one of the hazards of MTM/VF. Frame your discussion as a process starting with the human action that initiates the environmental hazard and ending with how aquatic organisms are affected by it.

Mountaintop removal mining is a type of surface mining in which the peak of a mountain is removed and the rock waste is dumped into a valley. This rock waste contains an element known as Selenium. Selenium is one of the many needs of our body, but the amount of selenium content and concentration will be hazardous. The selenium in these rocks are go into nearby watersheds and are released to the wildlife in those aquatic habitats. The aquatic organisms are affected by the selenium as birth defects are prevalent in many of them. This includes organisms being born with two eyes on the same side of its head or having a pronounced curvature in their backbones.

Recall our discussion on energy independence and oil imports into the U.S. An argument was made in class that oil imports from Canada actually contribute to economic sustainability for the U.S. energy system. How do oil imports from Canada potentially contribute to the economic sustainability of the U.S. energy system? In your answer, be sure to describe: 1) the primary type of crude oil produced domestically; 2) the primary type of crude oil imported from Canada; and 3) how Canadian oil ensures an "operational profit" for the U.S. oil industry.

Oil imports from Canada potentially contribute to the economic sustainability of the U.S. energy system because of the many oil refineries that were created in the past. Oil imports from Canada are heavy and sour crude imports. This means that the oil has a high density and is also sulfur rich. This allows refineries, that were made for heavy sour crude oil, to stay operational. The U.S. produced light crude oil (low density and low sulfur content), if there were no imports, the refineries would go out of business .This ensures that an operational profit for the U.S. oil industry.

In lecture, we compared nuclear power to coal-fired power plants in the context of human health and environmental conditions. Describe one way that nuclear power may be better for human health or environmental conditions than coal. (2 points) Describe one way that nuclear power may be worse for human health or environmental conditions than coal. (2 points)

One way that nuclear power may be better for human health or environmental conditions than coal is the fact that nuclear power plants do not send sulfur and other harmful chemicals into the atmosphere like coal power plants do. These harmful chemicals that coal emits lead to more atmospheric carbon and can have health effects both on humans and the environment. One way that nuclear power may be worse for human health or environmental conditions is the possibility of nuclear meltdowns and disasters. As mentioned in lecture, the Chernobyl disaster led to increased rates of cancer in those who are from the area, there is an expected number of people in the future who will die from this according to medical professionals. Also, if there is a nuclear power disaster, the environment around the plant will also suffer from the radioactivity. This does not occur often, only three major disaster in nuclear power history.

Corexit 9500 is a chemical solution used extensively during the clean-up of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in 2010. a) What was the purpose of applying Corexit 9500? (1 point) b) Was Corexit 9500 effective? Explain your reasoning (3 points)

The purpose of applying Corexit 9500 in the Deepwater Horizon oil spill was to help aid the clean up efforts and facilitate the metabolism of bacteria that breaks down oil. It was originally used in smaller bodies of water and showed promising results, it was, however, never tested in big bodies of water. The application of it was a desperate attempt. When applied, the chemical solution proved not to be effective as it did not effectively aid clean up as it did in the smaller bodies of water. Corexit "breaks" large volumes of oil into smaller suspended droplets with high surface area to volume ratio. The intent is to speed up bacterial metabolism of the spilled oil. Experiment results showed that bacterial productivity and metabolism of hydrocarbons decreased in the presence of Corexit, indicating that the efficacy may have been low.

Evaluate the following statement: "Oil sand products generate via ex situ or in situ techniques are indistinguishable in terms of: a) environmental impacts b) greenhouse gas emissions, and c) energy-returned-on-investment (EROI)." Is this statement true, false, or incomplete? Explain your reasoning.

This statement is false. Some of the terms are indistinguishable and some are distinguishable. For example, Oil sands require a lot more work to be done to them in order to get one barrel of synthetic oil, which is distinguishable. Both ex situ and in situ have environmental impacts that change the landscape of the Earth's surface. Extracting all oil sands using these methods would be equivalent to removing a portion of Mt. Everest, which make both indistinguishable. They are distinguishable in terms of greenhouse gas emissions, SAGD, an in situ production, was found to generate more carbon dioxide emissions than ex situ bitumen mining. The greater carbon emissions of SAGD are due to the burning of natural gas for steam production. The carbon emissions due to steam production are roughly twice as high as emissions from diesel-fueled mining equipment. They are also indistinguishable in terms on EROI as oil sands require a lot of natural gas input (3000 ft^3), almost the same amount that they would provide, to make one barrel of oil. ex situ leads to more deforestation and other land use change". The EROI for in situ is lower due to all of the natural gas used to produce steam.

Evaluate the following statement: "When considering production over the entire life spans of conventional and unconventional (hydraulically fractured) oil wells, production at the unconventional well will likely require more water (i.e., be more water intensive)." Is this statement true, false, or incomplete? Explain your reasoning.

Water demand for conventional oil can be equal, less than, or greater than the water demand for HF oil based on the Scanlon et al. results. Some conventional oil producers may use enhanced oil recovery methods, like water flooding, near the end of an oil fields lifespan, but not all conventional oil producers use enhanced oil recovery. That's why Scanlon et al. report a wide range of water-oil ratios from 0.1 to 5. Both forms of production demand high amounts of water at specific parts of their lives. Hydraulically fractured oil wells tend to demand more water in the beginning of production due to the water acquisition stage, while conventional oil production does not. Conventional oil production, unlike unconventional oil production, requires more water at the later half of production. Each form of production has their own water demands that can either exceed the water demand of the other form of production or not exceed the water demand for the other form of production as different factors must be taken into account.

Which of the following describes a difference between a nuclear power plant and a coal burning power plant a. Nuclear power plants do not require emission control mechanisms that remove ash and sulfur compounds b. No steam is produced in a nuclear power plant, unlike a coal burning power plant. c. All of the answer options are correct. d. The control rods in a nuclear power plant typically absorb fewer neutrons per year than control rods in a coal burning power plant

a. Nuclear power plants do not require emission control mechanisms that remove ash and sulfur compounds

Which of the following statement are true about the response to the Deepwater Horizon spill? a. Only 25% (1.25 million barrels) of the oil released was removed from the ocean and coastal environments. b. The National Environmental Policy Act was signed into law as a consequence. c. The Blowout Preventer (BOP) operated perfectly despite the failed cement and casing at the Macondo Well. d. All of the answer options are correct.

a. Only 25% (1.25 million barrels) of the oil released was removed from the ocean and coastal environments.

Choose the option that best completes the following statement. In coal mining regions, acid mine drainage is the result of __________ . a. Oxidation of sulfur-bearing minerals (pyrite) in coal b. Oxidation of sulfur-bearing organic matter in the coal. c. Acids used to extract coal d. Pulverized limestone used as rock dust in underground mines.

a. Oxidation of sulfur-bearing minerals (pyrite) in coal

Which of the following options is TRUE regarding the transportation of dilbit crude? a. Spill clean-up is more difficult due to evaporation of volatile diluents and subsequent settling of dense bitumen. b. Shipping by rail is more profitable than transporting dilbit by pipeline. c. Companies are required to invest in syncrude upgrading facilities before transporting dilbit by either rail or pipeline. d. None of the answer options are true.

a. Spill clean-up is more difficult due to evaporation of volatile diluents and subsequent settling of dense bitumen.

Which of the following statements is TRUE regarding mountaintop removal mining + valley fill (MTM/VF) and selenium in stream water? a. The water concentration of selenium within a watershed increases as more of the watershed is disturbed by MTM/VF operations. b. Once a valley fill has been deemed reclaimed by regulatory standards, the fill will stop emitting selenium to stream water within a year. c. There are no records of reclaimed MTM/VF sites emitting selenium into stream water. d. There is no relationship between the size or volume of a valley fill and the amount of selenium it emits to stream water.

a. The water concentration of selenium within a watershed increases as more of the watershed is disturbed by MTM/VF operations.

Producing electricity at a power plant involves a serial conversion of various types of energy. Which of the following energy conversions has the lowest efficiency? a. Thermal energy to mechanical energy b. Thermal energy to Chemical energy c. Mechanical energy to electrical energy d. Chemical energy to thermal energy

a. Thermal energy to mechanical energy

Changes in the characteristics of severe weather events over long time scales are evidence of climate change. a. True b. False

a. True

Read the following statement carefully and determine whether it is true or false. NOx compounds form when atmospheric nitrogen oxidizes at high temperatures during combustion of fossil fuels. a. True b. False

a. True

Read the following statement very carefully and determine if it is True or False. Multiple fluids may travel upward through an oil and natural gas well and "leak" into sources of drinking water. These fluids include hydrocarbons from the reservoir rock, methane from shallow sources, and salt-rich formation water. a. True b. False

a. True

Read the following statement very carefully and determine if it is true or false. The application of bacteria, along with nitrogen- and phosphorous-based fertilizers, to oil spills in marine environments is thought to increase the biological breakdown of the hydrocarbons. a. True b. False

a. True

We used the simple two-layer climate model above to test hypotheses concerning the increase in the average global surface temperature over the last century. The model parameters, or variables, shown in the image include: ea = emissivity of the atmosphere wrt infrared radiation Ta = temperature of the atmosphere Ts = temperature of the surface σ = Stefan-Boltzmann constant In our control experiment (i.e., no global warming): ea = 0.899, Ta = 250.8oK, Ts = 288oK, and σ = 5.67 x 10-8. We then changed relevant parameters to track how the atmosphere's temperature would be affected under enhanced greenhouse conditions. In other words, we ran an experiment to see how atmospheric temperatures would be affected if the surface was warmer due to more greenhouse gases. Question: If our hypothesis is that enhanced greenhouse conditions caused the 1oC increase in the average global surface temperature, which two parameters should be modified to test this hypothesis? a. Ts b. Ta c. ea d. σ

a. Ts c. ea

Choose the option that best completes the following statement. Sulfate (SO42-) concentrations in surface water can be used as a proxy for extent of coal mining in a watershed due to the ________ that occurs at both surface and underground coal mines. a. acid mine drainage b. bioaccumulation c. selenium discharge d. fugitive methane

a. acid mine drainage

Choose the option that best completes the following statement: Low concentrations of metals, such as selenium, in surface waters can lead to toxicity symptoms in aquatic organisms, especially offspring, via ________ . a. bioaccumulation b. metal excretion rates exceeding metal intake rates c. biomagnification d. mine remediation

a. bioaccumulation

Choose the options that best complete the following statement: The power density of [ Select ] ["coal", "biofuels", "wind power", "solar power"] is inherently constrained by the power capacity of photosynthetic organisms per area, which is on average [ Select ] ["~100", "~15", "~0.2", "~10"] W/m2.

a. biofuels b. ~0.2

What is the largest contributor to hydrocarbons "leaked" into the oceans? a. Production well blowouts b. Natural seeps c. End-user consumption d. Oil tanker accidents

b. Natural seeps

Choose the options that best complete the following statement: Spent nuclear fuel (i.e., nuclear waste) in the United States is stored in two stages. Spent fuel rods are temporarily stored in [ Select ] ["Illinois", "dry casks until they sufficiently decrease in temperature and radioactivity", "cooling pools until they sufficiently decrease in temperature and radioactivity", "a geologic repository, like Yucca Mountain,"] and then transferred to [ Select ] ["Illinois", "cooling pools at operating and/or decommissioned reactor sites", "a geologic repository, like Yucca Mountain", "dry casks"] .

a. cooling pools until they sufficiently decrease in temperature and radioactivity b. dry casks

Choose the options that best complete the following statement. The Stefan-Boltzmann Radiation Law was used in lecture to test hypotheses concerning the cause of recent global warming. Generally speaking, the Stefan-Boltzmann Law describes the relationship between the [ Select ] ["transmissivity", "reflectivity", "temperature", "emissivity"] of an object and the [ Select ] ["proportion of energy reflected by the object", "proportion of energy transmitted through the object", "the temperature of its atmosphere", "rate of energy radiated from the object."] .

a. temperature b. rate of energy radiated from the object

What is pore pressure? a. the pressure exerted by fluids within the pores of rocks b. the pressure exerted on pore fluids by the overlying rock and sediment c. a measure of the connectivity between pores d. the proportion of open space within rocks and volumes of sediment

a. the pressure exerted by fluids within the pores of rocks

Which of the following are ways to prevent groundwater contamination by frac fluid, methane, and produced water? a. Pressure integrity tests of well casings and cement. b. All of the answer options are correct. c. Avoidance of subsurface faults using information from seismic surveys. d. Surveys conducted using historical records and satellite imagery to find abandoned oil and natural gas wells.

b. All of the answer options are correct.

Which of the following statements explains why the U.S. continues to import crude oil from Canada at a rate of ~4 million barrels per day? a. Idle refineries do not produce operational profits. b. All of the answer options combined correctly explain why the U.S. imports Canadian oil. c. Many U.S. refineries were designed to process heavy crude oil. d. Oil imports from Canada are primarily heavy crudes. e. The majority of oil produced in the U.S. is light crude oil.

b. All of the answer options combined correctly explain why the U.S. imports Canadian oil.

Which of the following is an effect of climate change already happening in Iowa? a. An increase in the extent of ice coverage b. An increase in annual precipitation c. A decrease in flood risk d. A shorter growing season

b. An increase in annual precipitation

Choose the answer that best completes the following sentence: Current financial investments in future fossil fuel production may lead to an economic crisis, commonly called the ________ , should fossil fuel resources be left untouched to prevent further climate change. a. 2008 Great Recession b. Carbon Bubble c. EROI d. Gross Domestic Product

b. Carbon Bubble

According to the Scientific American article entitled "Drilling for Earthquakes", the risk of anthropogenic earthquakes, such as those that have occurred in Oklahoma, should immediately decrease once wastewater injection has ceased. a. True b. False

b. False

Carbon monoxide (CO) results from incomplete combustion of fossil fuels due to presence of excess oxygen. a. True b. False

b. False

On an annual basis, the United States consumes a diverse, yet uneven, group of energy resources, ~51% of which consists of fossil fuels (coal, oil, and natural gas). a. True b. False

b. False

Read the following statement very carefully and determine if it is true or false. Common causes of leaks in crude oil pipelines are internal corrosion and deviated (i.e., un-centered) steel casing. a. True b. False

b. False

Read the following statement very carefully and determine whether it is True or False. Particles of bottom ash, a type of coal ash, are often used in cement production because they are nearly spherical, have an almost pure silica composition, and are small in size. a. True b. False

b. False

In the context of ocean fertilization, a form of geoengineering, what is the purpose of seeding the ocean with soluble iron? Choose the option that best answers this question. a. Iron prevents the dissolved carbon in the ocean from being oxidized into carbon dioxide. b. Iron is a limited nutrient in the ocean. Adding iron may increase photosynthetic productivity and remove carbon from the atmosphere at a higher rate. c. Iron is a limited nutrient in the ocean. Adding iron will increase the rate of chemical weathering in ocean environments and remove carbon from the atmosphere at a higher rate. d. Iron will react rapidly with carbon dissolved in the ocean, creating a highly reflective material as a form of solar radiation management.

b. Iron is a limited nutrient in the ocean. Adding iron may increase photosynthetic productivity and remove carbon from the atmosphere at a higher rate.

Choose the answer that best completes the following statement: ________ is(are) the "cooked" organic matter that is the precursor to oil and natural gas. a. Peroxylacyl nitrates (PANs) b. Kerogen c. Graphite d. Peat

b. Kerogen

Which of the following contributes to the substantial reclamation debt of oil sand operations in Alberta, Canada? a. Boreal forests in Alberta recover slowly due to high water stress. b. Mature fine tailings in impoundments can take 30 years or more to settle out of wastewater. c. None of the answer options are correct. d. The higher energy demands of in situ extraction leads to greater deforestation rates.

b. Mature fine tailings in impoundments can take 30 years or more to settle out of wastewater.

Which of the following is FALSE about wastewater related to hydrocarbon production via conventional and/or hydraulic fracturing (HF) techniques? a. Wastewater from conventional and hydraulic fracturing production can be recycled for secondary phase recovery and future frack treatments (i.e., stimulations). b. Municipal wastewater treatment facilities can effectively remove the salt content and naturally-occurring radioactive materials from HF wastewater. c. All of the answer options are true. d. Disposal of waste water underground is regulated by the Safe Drinking Water Act

b. Municipal wastewater treatment facilities can effectively remove the salt content and naturally-occurring radioactive materials from HF wastewater.

Which of the following is (are) evidence used in lecture to argue that natural climate forcings are not responsible for modern global warming? a. The occurrence of snowballs in winter. b. Observed modern warming of 1°C per century is 2-5 orders of magnitude faster than temperature change associated with tectonic forcing. c. Temperature change during the last 2 glacial-interglacial cycles occurred at a rate of 2°C per century. d. None of the answer options are correct.

b. Observed modern warming of 1°C per century is 2-5 orders of magnitude faster than temperature change associated with tectonic forcing.

Which of the following terms is defined as the connectivity between open spaces in rock? a. Migration pathway b. Permeability c. Resistivity d. Porosity

b. Permeability

Which of the following is NOT a type of additive in frack fluids? a. Guar gum b. Phosphorous- and nitrogen-based fertilizers c. Acid d. Biocides

b. Phosphorous- and nitrogen-based fertilizers

Choose the option that best completes the following sentence: Anthropogenic oil spills have a detrimental impact on wildlife and ecosystems by ________ a. Exposing marine organisms to low salinity produced water, forcing them into physiological shock. b. Releasing carcinogenic and immunosuppressive substances into aquatic and terrestrial environments. c. All of the answer options are correct. d. Causing "blooms" of photosynthetic organisms that quickly create low-oxygen water when they decompose.

b. Releasing carcinogenic and immunosuppressive substances into aquatic and terrestrial environments.

What are relief wells in the context of well blowouts? a. Relief wells are drilled to facilitate enhanced oil recovery at convention oil and natural gas fields. b. Relief wells are drilled to intercept and seal a production well that has lost pressure control. c. Relief wells are drilled to facilitate in situ oil sand extraction in low permeability rock layers. d. Relief wells are drilled to release pore pressure at wastewater injection sites, preventing anthropogenic earthquakes.

b. Relief wells are drilled to intercept and seal a production well that has lost pressure control.

Which of the following regions exhibits the highest level of energy poverty? a. Latin America b. Sub-Saharan Africa c. North America d. North Africa

b. Sub-Saharan Africa

Why did the 2010 Kalamazoo River dilbit spill require two phases of clean-up? a. One of the tank rail cars that did not explode in the accident derailed at a bridge upstream from the primary spill site. b. The first phase of the clean-up primarily removed the low-density diluent. A second phase of dredging river sediment was necessary to remove settled, high-density bitumen. c. The first phase of the clean-up primarily removed the low-density bitumen. A second phase of dredging river sediment was necessary to remove settled, high-density diluent. d. A second, previously undetected rupture was discovered in the Enbridge pipeline.

b. The first phase of the clean-up primarily removed the low-density diluent. A second phase of dredging river sediment was necessary to remove settled, high-density bitumen.

Which of the following describes a decision made during construction of the Fukushima Daiichi power plant that made it more susceptible to tsunamis? a. Local seismic hazard maps were ignored, resulting in construction that over-compensated for future earthquakes. b. The natural seawall was reduced in elevation to facilitate ocean delivery of heavy equipment and prefab modules. c. The natural seawall was raised to a higher elevation to provide access to seawater for the coolant system. d. Specifications for the artificial seawall were based on inaccurate stone markers scattered throughout the Fukushima prefecture.

b. The natural seawall was reduced in elevation to facilitate ocean delivery of heavy equipment and prefab modules.

How is modern climate change expected to affect the rate at which carbon dioxide is absorbed by the oceanic carbon reservoir? a. The rate will decrease, because the deep ocean with soon be saturated in carbon. b. The rate will decrease, because warmer, more buoyant surface water will not readily sink in the deeper ocean. c. None of the answer options are correct. d. The rate will increase, because warmer, more buoyant surface water will readily sink into the deeper ocean.

b. The rate will decrease, because warmer, more buoyant surface water will not readily sink in the deeper ocean.

Power is defined a rate of energy use, production, or conversion. Which of the following units is an example of a unit of power? a. British Thermal Unit (Btu) b. Watts (W) c. Kilocalorie (kcal) d. Joules (J)

b. Watts (W)

Choose the option that best completes the following sentence. Naturally-occurring ________ do not have the acid neutralizing capacity to prevent detrimental effects of acid deposition, such as nutrient ________ . a. acidic soils; accumulation b. acidic soils; leaching c. alkaline soils; leaching d. alkaline soils, mobilization

b. acidic soils; leaching

Choose the option(s) that best completes the following statement: Casing and cementing an oil production well prevents __________ . (Select all options that are correct.) a. flooding of seawater into the deep, hydrocarbon-producing areas of the borehole. b. inward collapse of the borehole. c. contamination of aquifers (i.e., bodies of groundwater) that are perforated by the well. d. drilling mud from coming into contact with reservoir rocks during a pressure integrity test.

b. inward collapse of the borehole. c. contamination of aquifers (i.e., bodies of groundwater) that are perforated by the well.

What was the initial cause of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant disaster in 2011? a. All of the answer options are correct. b. Rupture of a reactor vessel and subsequent combustion of the graphite moderator c. A 9.0 magnitude earthquake and subsequent tsunami cutting power to cooling systems d. A reactor breach due to winds and flooding cause by Typhoon Nuri

c. A 9.0 magnitude earthquake and subsequent tsunami cutting power to cooling systems

The U.S. energy economy shows two major transitions over its history. Which of the following options correctly describes one of these transitions? Hint: "A direct transition" means a transition from one resource to another without an intermediate step. a. A direct transition from a natural gas-dominated economy to a renewables-dominated economy without intermediate steps. b. A direct transition from a wood-dominated economy to an oil and natural gas dominated economy without intermediate steps. c. A direct transition from a coal-dominated economy to an oil-dominated economy without intermediate steps. d. A direct transition from a coal-dominated economy to a nuclear-dominated economy without intermediate steps.

c. A direct transition from a coal-dominated economy to an oil-dominated economy without intermediate steps.

Choose the option that best completes the following statement. The process of hydraulic fracturing or "fracking" in a shale play is necessary to produce gas/oil because __________ . a. The pores are not well connected in the shale play. Fracturing it will connect the pores and increase permeability. b. The artificially-produced fracture system will close unless proppants are used. c. All of the answer options are correct. d. The porosity and permeability of the shale play are low.

c. All of the answer options are correct.

Assume that the increase in atmospheric carbon dioxide over the last 150 years was due to an increase in inorganic carbon, such as carbon dioxide produced by volcanoes. Which of the hypothetical graphs above is the most consistent with that assumption? a. B b. D c. C d. A

c. C

Which of the following explains the gaps in the infrared emission spectrum (i.e., transmissivity spectrum) of the Earth? a. Gaps in the emission spectra indicate infrared wavelengths that are not absorbed by the atmosphere. b. Airborne pollutants, such as particulate matter, reflect incoming solar radiation. c. Greenhouse gases, such as water vapor, ozone, and CO2, absorb significant amount of energy at those infrared wavelengths. d. Is your spectrometer plugged in? Have you tried turning it off and then on again?

c. Greenhouse gases, such as water vapor, ozone, and CO2, absorb significant amount of energy at those infrared wavelengths.

Which of the following is not one of the four components of a conventional hydrocarbon system? a. Source rock b. Trap/seal geometry c. Impedance/resistivity layer d. Reservoir rock

c. Impedance/resistivity layer

Choose the option that best completes the following sentence: Passage of Title IV of 1990 Clean Air Act Amendments was important, because ________ . a. It capped SO2 emissions at twice the amount of 1980 emissions. b. All of the answer options are correct. c. It showed how successfully a cap and trade system combined with new emission reduction technology could work d. It established a non-market-based approach to reducing emissions.

c. It showed how successfully a cap and trade system combined with new emission reduction technology could work

What is produced water (aka production water or formation water)? a. A solvent added to drilling mud to enhance production of hydrocarbons. b. Naturally-occurring freshwater withdrawn from the ground when extracting oil and natural gas. c. Naturally-occurring, salt-rich water in subsurface rock strata d. Potable groundwater produced during initial stages of drilling hydrocarbon wells

c. Naturally-occurring, salt-rich water in subsurface rock strata

What observations have been made based on data from the three 5.0+ magnitude earthquakes in the Wilzetta oil field, Oklahoma, in 2011? a. All of the answer options are correct. b. None of the aftershocks occurred in the sedimentary layer in which wastewater was injected. c. Pore pressure due to wastewater injection did not completely dissipate over time. d. Fault movement started more than 2 km from the injection disposal wells.

c. Pore pressure due to wastewater injection did not completely dissipate over time.

Which of the following units describes the largest quantity of energy? a. British Thermal Unit (Btu) b. Kilocalorie (kcal) c. Quad (Q) d. Joule (J)

c. Quad (Q)

How did the moderator at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant contribute to the release of radioactive material during the disaster? a. All of the answer options are correct. b. The graphite moderator failed to absorb excess neutrons, creating an uncontrolled chain reaction when the cooling system failed. c. The graphite moderator ignited, sending a plume of radioactive material high into the atmosphere. d. The water moderator created a hydrogen explosion, sending radioactive steam into local environments.

c. The graphite moderator ignited, sending a plume of radioactive material high into the atmosphere.

Steam assisted gravity drainage (SAGD), a form of in situ oil sand production, was found to generate more carbon dioxide emissions than ex situ bitumen mining. Which of the following statements correctly explains the greater carbon emissions of SAGD? a. The poor quality of the bitumen recovered from SAGD requires mandatory upgrading to synthetic crude oil, a process that requires 2000 cubic feet of natural gas for every barrel of synthetic crude. b. SAGD techniques require large electrical heating elements to be inserted at depths of 75 meters or greater. These electrical heating elements are powered by electricity from gigawatt-capacity coal power plants. c. The greater carbon emissions of SAGD are due to the burning of natural gas for steam production. The carbon emissions due to steam production are roughly twice as high as emissions from diesel-fueled mining equipment. d. All of the answer options are correct.

c. The greater carbon emissions of SAGD are due to the burning of natural gas for steam production. The carbon emissions due to steam production are roughly twice as high as emissions from diesel-fueled mining equipment.

What happens to the overburden at surface coal mines, like open pit mines and mountaintop removal mines? a. The overburden at both types of surface mines is typically used to back fill mining pits and return the landscape to its approximate original contours (i.e., original topography). b. The overburden at both types of surface mines is placed in adjacent stream valleys, resulting in a lower relief landscape. c. The overburden at an open pit mine is typically used to back fill mining pits and return the landscape to its approximate original contours (i.e., original topography). The overburden at a mountain top removal mine is placed in adjacent stream valleys, resulting in a lower relief landscape. d. The overburden at a mountaintop removal mine is typically used to back fill mining pits and return the landscape to its approximate original contours (i.e., original topography). The overburden at an open pit mine is placed in adjacent stream valleys, resulting in a lower relief landscape.

c. The overburden at an open pit mine is typically used to back fill mining pits and return the landscape to its approximate original contours (i.e., original topography). The overburden at a mountain top removal mine is placed in adjacent stream valleys, resulting in a lower relief landscape.

Which of the following conditions is necessary for the formation of peat in a wetland system? a. Dissolved oxygen concentrations in the peatlands must be consistently high. b. Wetlands can only produce peat in tropical environments. c. The rate of accumulation of organic material must exceed the rate of decomposition. d. The rate of decomposition of organic material must exceed the rate of accumulation.

c. The rate of accumulation of organic material must exceed the rate of decomposition.

What are mature fine tailings in the context of oil sand extraction? a. the low viscosity bitumen that is produced during in situ extraction b. a mixture of high salinity water, fine-grained sediment, and sulfur compounds from acid mine drainage c. a mixture of high salinity water, fine-grained sediment, and unrecovered bitumen d. a mixture of naphtha and natural gas condensates used to dilute bitumen into a crude-like substance

c. a mixture of high salinity water, fine-grained sediment, and unrecovered bitumen

What was an impact of the Three Mile Island disaster of 1979? a. millions of gallons of radioactive sea water b. rapid adoption of graphite reactors worldwide c. a nearly 30 year moratorium on construction of new nuclear power plants d. the global population exposed to the equivalent of 3 extra weeks of background radiation

c. a nearly 30 year moratorium on construction of new nuclear power plants

Recall our discussion of the power density of a solar photovoltaic array. The efficiency of a solar array is the proportion of solar energy that is converted to electricity. If an area of land receives solar energy at a rate of 200 W/m2 and the efficiency of the solar array is 15%, what is the expected power density of the solar array? a. 3000 W/m2 b. The power density cannot be calculated with the provided information. c. 1333 W/m2 d. 30 W/m2

d. 30 W/m2

What are proxy data in the context of studying Earth's ancient climate? a. Measurements taken from natural recorders of Earth's climate in the past b. Climate data derived from sources such as plankton and stable oxygen isotopes c. Data interpreted from our understanding of how climate change impacts chemical and physiological processes d. All of the answer options are correct

d. All of the answer options are correct

The increase in the number of 3.0 magnitude earthquakes in the U.S. from 21 per year in 2000 to 100+ per year after the year 2000 is coincident with what? a. Drilling and hydraulic fracturing of horizontal wells. b. Development of a midcontinental rift in the New Madrid seismic zone c. Growth in underground oil shale mining operations. d. An increase in wastewater disposal well injections

d. An increase in wastewater disposal well injections

Choose the option that best completes the following sentence: The fracking water cycle has 5 general stages including ________ . a. Water acquisition and steam production b. Well injection and steam assisted gravity drainage c. Brine acquisition and aquifer communication d. Chemical mixing and wastewater treatment

d. Chemical mixing and wastewater treatment

When estimating power density of a coal power plant in lecture, the power plant's electrical capacity was 1 gigawatt (GW) whereas its thermal capacity was 3 GW. Why is the thermal capacity of a power plant always higher than its electrical capacity? a. Thermal energy is a higher quality form of energy than electrical energy, hence the 3-fold increase in capacity. b. Converting electrical energy to thermal energy at the power plant is an inefficient process. A large proportion of the electrical energy is lost to the environment as waste heat. c. Converting electrical energy to thermal energy at the power plant is a very efficient process. In some instances, a power plant can generate 3 units of heat energy for every unit of electrical energy it consumes. d. Converting thermal energy to mechanical and electrical energy is an inefficient process. A large proportion of heat produced by burning a fuel is lost to the environment as waste heat.

d. Converting thermal energy to mechanical and electrical energy is an inefficient process. A large proportion of heat produced by burning a fuel is lost to the environment as waste heat.

Which of the following provides a direct measurements of Earth's climate over the past 800,000 years? a. Belemnites from the Peedee Formation b. Boron isotopes measured in marine sediment. c. Measurements from the Mauna Loa Observatory d. Ice cores from Antarctic ice sheets

d. Ice cores from Antarctic ice sheets

Which of the following statements is FALSE about the different types of coal mining? a. Fugitive methane emissions occur at both underground and surface coal mines b. Underground coal mining techniques vary in the proportion of coal extracted. c. Strip mine reclamation involves returning surface topography to its approximate original contours. d. Longwall mining involves placing overburden in adjacent stream valleys.

d. Longwall mining involves placing overburden in adjacent stream valleys.

In parts of the country where areas of photochemical smog often occurs, why does the peak concentration of ozone (O3) occur in the afternoon between noon and 3 pm? a. All of the answer options are correct. b. The land breeze (i.e. wind blowing from the land out to the sea) is strongest in the early afternoon. c. Primary pollutants from vehicles are emitted predominantly from noon to 3 pm. d. Solar UV radiation is necessary to produce ozone, and the sun is highest on the horizon during the early afternoon.

d. Solar UV radiation is necessary to produce ozone, and the sun is highest on the horizon during the early afternoon.

What are the 3 major reservoirs of carbon besides the atmosphere? a. Terrestrial plants/soil, the MacKenzie River Basin, and the lithosphere b. Terrestrial plants/soil, permafrost, and the deep ocean c. Coal, oil, and natural gas d. Terrestrial plants/soil, the deep ocean, and the lithosphere

d. Terrestrial plants/soil, the deep ocean, and the lithosphere

Which of the following correctly describes an advantage of the Yucca Mountain repository for long-term storage of spent nuclear fuel? a. The repository was constructed in very permeable rock, allowing rapid flow of groundwater. b. None of the answer options are correct. c. Risk management at the repository includes a 5.7 meter seawall. d. The repository is positioned 1000 feet below the surface but 1000 feet above sources of groundwater.

d. The repository is positioned 1000 feet below the surface but 1000 feet above sources of groundwater.

Which of the following causes the majority of ocean contamination incidents during the upstream stage of the hydrocarbon life-cycle (i.e., exploration and production)? a. Catastrophic failure of storage tanks on drill rigs. b. Faults created by the extraction process. c. Collisions between oil tankers. d. Uncontrolled release of pressure at wells (aka blowouts)

d. Uncontrolled release of pressure at wells (aka blowouts)

Choose the option that best completes the following statement. The historical increase in atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations is correlated with a large negative excursion in atmospheric carbon isotopes. This correlation suggests that the major source of historical carbon dioxide emissions is ________ . a. none of the answer options are correct b. heavy carbon isotopes c. volcanic eruptions d. organic carbon

d. organic carbon