11 Section #3

76. At the current rate of usage, the proven uranium reserves will last about _____ years. Which nation has the highest amount of proven uranium reserves?

1) 124 2) Australia

65. At the current use rate, how much more time is there before the proven reserves of coal are likely to run out? ______; natural gas? ________; petroleum? __________.

1) 130 years 2) 56 years 3) 55 years

Nuclear power supplies ___ percent of the world's electricity needs; ____________- is generated in developed countries; countries in ______ are the most highly dependent on nuclear power.

1) 14 2) 2/3 of the world's nuclear power 3) Europe

69. The U.S. supplies most of its oil from _______ and ___________.

1) Canada 2) Saudi Arabia.

62. ______ is the nation that is the leader in energy consumption, though the highest per capita consumption of energy is still ______________.

1) China 2) remains in developed countries.

85. What is the second-most-popular source of electricity after coal? What country in South America depends primarily on this type of energy? What country in North America gets 60 percent of its electricity from this type?

1) Hydroelectric power. 2) Brazil. 3) Canada

120. What states are the greatest exporters of most solid waste? ___________________________ What states are the greatest importers of this waste?________________

1) New York, New Jersey, and Illinois 2) Pennsylvania, Virginia, Michigan

113. What is point source pollution? Two main sources include:

1) Point source pollution is a pollution that enters a body of water from a specific source. 2) a. Water-using manufacturers. Many factories and power plants use water for cooling and then discharge the warm water back into the river or lake. The warm water may not be polluted with chemicals, but it raises the temperature of the body of water it enters. Fish adapted to cold water might not be able to survive in the warmer water. Steel, chemicals, paper products, and food processing are major industrial polluters of water. Each requires a large amount of water in the manufacturing process and generates a lot of waste water. b. Municipal sewage. In developed countries, sewers carry waste water from the sink, bathtub, and toilets to a municipal treatment plant, where most of the pollutants are removed. The treated wastewater is then typically dumped back into a river or lake. In developing countries, sewer systems are rare, and wastewater often drains, untreated, into rivers and lakes. The drinking water, usually removed from the same rivers may be inadequately treated as well. The combination of untreated water and poor sanitation makes drinking water deadly in some developing countries.

69. The largest flows of oil are from ____________, and from ____________ and to _____.

1) Russia to Europe 2) Southwest Asia to Europe 3) Japan

120. What is believed to be the world's largest landfill? It is about twice the size of ________ and is caused by _____. __________ makes up 90 percent of the trash floating in the oceans.

1) The Great Pacific Garbage Patch 2) Texas 3) slow-moving currents that converge in the area. Plastic

91. What three nations are the leading producers of geothermal power? Name the city in Iceland where nearly all the homes and businesses are heated with geothermal steam.

1) The United States, Indonesia, and the Philippines. 2) Reykjavik

What happens if there is too much waste discharged into a water source? What happens if there is a run off of fertilizer into a water source?

1) The water becomes oxygen starved and the fish die. 2) This condition is typical when water becomes loaded with municipal sewage or industrial waste. The fertilizer nourishes excessive aquatic plant production, a pond scum of algae that consumes too much oxygen. Either type of pollution reduces the normal oxygen level, threatening aquatic plants and animals. Some of the residuals may become concentrated in the fish, making them unsafe for human consumption.

In the U.S. nuclear power provides more than 70 percent of electrical needs in _________, and more than 50 percent in ______________.. While ___ states and the District of Columbia have no nuclear power plants at all.

1) Vermont 2) Connecticut, New Jersey, and South Carolina 3) 20

_____ was the primary fuel source of the 19th century, but was replaced by ___ due to the Industrial Revolution. Mainly due to the diffusion of cars, and/or internal combustion engines, petroleum became more in demand in the 20th century, while ________ is used to heat homes and prepare food.

1) Wood 2) coal 3) natural gas

96. The ultimate renewable energy source is _____ energy, provided by the Sun. This energy source is of benefit to all countries, but especially in the _______ countries where other energy sources might be too expensive.

1) solar 2) developing

What is the reason why more breeder reactors have not been built?

A breeder reactor turns uranium into a renewable resource by generating plutonium, also a nuclear fuel. However, plutonium is more lethal than uranium and could cause more deaths and injuries in an accident. It is also easier to fashion into a bomb.

113. Why do aluminum producers often locate near sources of hydroelectric power?

A large amount of electricity is needed to separate pure aluminum from bauxite.

55. In geographic terms, what is a resource?

A resource is a substance in the environment that is useful to people, is economically and technologically feasible to access, and is socially acceptable to use.

120. In geographic terms, what is the function of a sanitary landfill?

A sanitary landfill is a place to deposit solid waste, where a layer of earth is bulldozed over garbage each day to reduce emissions of gases and odors from the decaying trash, to minimize fires, and to discourage vermin.

105. How does acid deposition affect water, soil, and buildings?

Acid precipitation damages lakes, killing fish and plants. On land, concentrations of acid in the soil can injure plants by depriving them of nutrients and can harm worms and insects. Buildings and monuments made of marble and limestone have suffered corrosion from acid rain.

105. What causes acid precipitation?

Acid precipitation is caused by the conversion of sulfur oxides and nitrogen oxides to acids that return to Earth as rain, snow, or fog.

96. How do direct, active solar energy systems work?

Active solar energy is solar radiation captured with photovoltaic cells that convert light energy to electrical energy. They collect solar energy and convert it either to heat energy or to electricity.

What is the primary cause of nonpoint source pollution?

Agriculture. Fertilizers and pesticides that are spread on fields to increase agricultural productivity are carried into rivers and lakes by irrigation systems for natural runoff. Extended use of these products may help avoid a global food crisis, but it may destroy aquatic Life by polluting rivers and lakes.

69. What is believed to be the reason why alternative energy sources will be in higher demand in the future?

Alternative energy sources will be in higher demand in the future because energy sources such as coal, natural gas, and other unrenewable resources will rise in price due to scarcity. Common people won't be able to afford these resources and will need other sources of energy to purchase that are cheaper.

76. What are two examples given in the reading of when a meltdown occurred at a power plant?

An example of when a meltdown occurred at a power plant was at Chernobyl in 1986, then in the Soviet Union and now the north of Ukraine, near the Belarus border. Another example of when a meltdown occurred at a power plant was following an earthquake and tsunami in 2011 when three reactors at Japan's Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant experienced full meltdown, resulting in release of radioactive materials.

In geographic terms, what is biochemical oxygen demand (BOD)?

Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) is the amount of oxygen required by aquatic bacteria to decompose a given load of organic waste; a measure of water pollution.

What is the source of biomass fuel?

Biomass fuel is fuel derived from plant material and animal waste. Biomass energy sources include wood and crops.

55. Which nation is the largest supplier of coal?

China

96. What are limitations associated with electric-powered vehicles?

Compared to gasoline power, the electric-powered vehicle has a more limited range and costs more to operate. Recharging the battery can take several hours.

What is a problem associated with the use of landfills?

Concentration would seem to eliminate solid waste pollution, but it may only hide it temporarily. Chemicals released by the decomposing solid waste can leak from the landfill into groundwater. This can contaminate water wells, soil, and nearby streams.

The city with the world's most polluted air is __________ at six times what is considered the safe amount.

Delhi, India

96. What is the explanation for why solar energy did not become more popular in the U.S. in the second half of the 20th century?

Electricity and petroleum were cheap and abundant after WW2 and through most pf the twentieth century, passive solar energy rarely played a major role in construction of homes and commercial buildings.

91. What is the source of geothermal energy?

Energy from hot water and steam.

105. What are the causes of most of the current air pollution?

Factories, power plants, and motor vehicles.

96. What are examples in developed countries where solar-generated electricity is already in use?

In developed countries, solar-generated electricity is used in spacecraft, light-powered calculators, and at remote sites where conventional power is unavailable, such as California Mojave Desert.

69. Which nation imports more than 90 percent of its oil?

Japan

85. What are examples of nonrenewable energy sources?

Natural gas, petroleum, and coal.

113. What is the difference between nonconsumptive and consumptive water usage?

Nonconsumptive water usage is the use of water that is returned to nature as a liquid and consumptive water usage is the use of water that evaporates rather than being returned to nature as a liquid.

83. What is nuclear fusion?

Nuclear fusion is the creation of energy by joining the nuclei of two hydrogen atoms to form helium.

83. Why is generating electricity from nuclear power plants more expensive than from coal-burning plants?

Nuclear power plants cost several billion dollars to build, primarily because of the elaborate safety measures required. Without double and triple backup systems at nuclear power plants, nuclear energy would be too dangerous to use. Uranium is mined in one place, refined in another, and used in still another. As with coal, mining uranium can pollute land and water and damage miners' health. The complexities of safe transportation add to the cost.

62. Why was OPEC (the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries) formed in 1960?

OPEC was originally formed to enable oil-rich countries to gain more control over their resource. U.S. and European transnational companies, which had originally explored and exploited the oil fields, were selling the petroleum at low prices to consumers in developed countries and keeping most of the profits. Countries processing the oil reserves nationalized or more tightly controlled the fields, and prices were set by governments rather than by petroleum companies.

120. What makes up the largest share of solid waste generated in the U.S. today?

Paper products, such as corrugated cardboard and newspapers, account for the largest share of solid waste in the United States, especially among residences and retailers.

105. In geographic terms, when does pollution occur?

Pollution occurs when more waste is added than air, water, and land resources can handle.

In geographic terms, what is meant by potential reserves? Resources are considered unconventional if getting them is either not practical economically or environmentally, or if technology is currently unavailable to do it.

Potential reserves are the amount of energy in deposits not yet identified but thought to exist.

65. In geographic terms, what is meant by proven reserves?

Proven reserves are the amount of a resource remaining in discovered deposits.

55. Which two nations are the largest suppliers of petroleum?

Russia and Saudi Arabia

One-third of natural gas production today comes from ______________.

Russia and Southwest Asia.

96. How do passive solar energy systems work?

Solar energy systems that collect energy without the use of mechanical devices. These systems use south-facing windows and dark surfaces to heat and light buildings on sunny days. The sun's rays penetrate the windows and are converted to heat. Humans as passive solar energy collectors when they are warmed by sunlight.

96. How do indirect, active solar energy systems work?

Solar radiation is first converted to heat and then to electricity. The sun's rays are concentrated by reflectors onto a pipe filled with synthetic oil. The heat from the oil-filled pipe generates steam to run turbines. In heat conversion, solar radiation is concentrated with large reflectors and lenses to heat water or rocks. These store the energy for use at night and or on cloudy days

105. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), a specialized agency of the United Nations concerned with international public health issues, where are the 20 most polluted cities in the world today?

South Asia

What are three types of crops that can be processed into biomass motor-vehicle fuels?

Sugarcane, corn, and soybeans

105. In geographic terms, what is meant by the greenhouse effect?

The greenhouse effect is the anticipation increase in Earth's temperature caused by carbon dioxide (emitted by burning fossil fuels) trapping some of the radiation emitted by the surface.

91. What is a drawback for developing countries in using wind-generated power?

The high cost of constructing wind turbines.

96. How have auto manufacturers dealt with these limitations?

To address these issues, carmakers own a variety of vehicles that combine electric and gasoline power. Hybrid vehicles conserve gasoline by running on electricity at low speeds. Other vehicles operate exclusively on battery powered electricity and use the gasoline engine to recharge the battery.

76. List the nations known, or believed, to have nuclear weapons.

United States, Russia, China, France, the United Kingdom, India, Pakistan, North Korea, and Israel.

76. Why are there problems resulting from the radioactive waste created by nuclear power?

Waste from nuclear fission is highly radioactive and lethal, and it remains so for many years. Plutonium for making nuclear weapons can also be harvested from this waste. Pipes, concrete, and water near the fissioning fuel can also become "hot" with radioactivity. No one has yet devised permanent storage for radioactive waste. The waste cannot be burned or chemically treated, and it must be isolated for several thousand years until it loses its radioactivity.

113. What is the main reason why North America has the world's highest per capita consumption of water?

Water usage is extremely high in the U.S. because of agriculture rather than industry. They need the water for animals and the irrigation of crops.

85. What are examples of renewable energy sources?

Water, wind, and the Sun.

76. If a nuclear power plant has a runaway reaction, what does that mean?

When a nuclear power plant has a runaway reaction the reactor overheats causing a meltdown, possible steam explosions, and scattering of radioactive material into the atmosphere.

What are three limitations on increasing the use of biomass for fuel?

a. Burning biomass may be inefficient because the energy used to produce the crops may be as much as the energy supplied by the crops. b. Biomass already serves essential purposes other than energy, such as providing much of Earth's food, clothing, and shelter. c. When wood is burned for fuel instead of being left in the forest, the fertility of the forest may be reduced.

105. What are the three basic components of urban air pollution?

a. Carbon monoxide: Breathing carbon monoxide reduces the oxygen level in blood, impairs vision and alertness, and threatens those with breathing problems. b. Hydrocarbons: Hydrocarbons and nitrogen oxides in the present of sunlight form photochemical smog, which causes respiratory problems, stinging in the eyes, and an ugly haze over cities. c. Particulates: The pollutants include dust and smoke particles. The dark plume of smoke from a factory stack and the exhaust of a diesel truck are examples of particulate emissions.

91. What are two positive reasons for using wind-generated power?

a. Construction of a wind turbine modifies the environment less severely than does the construction of a dam. b. Wind power has greater potential for increased use because only a small portion of the resource has been harnessed.

62. The four primary types of consumption of energy in the United States are:

a. Industries: Factors use roughly 40% natural gas and 30% each coal and petroleum. Most of the natural gas and petroleum is burned directly, whereas coal is consumed primarily through purchasing electricity. b. Transportation: Almost all transportation systems run on petroleum products. c. Homes: Natural gas and coal provide roughly equal shares of home needs. Natural gas is principal source of home heating and air conditioning, whereas electricity generated primarily from coal is the principal source of electricity. d. Commercial: Stores and offices have uses and sources similar to those for homes.

What are two examples of unconventional resource processes that are now in use?

a. Oil sands: Abundant oil sands are found in Alberta, Canada, as well as in Venezuela and Russia. Oil sands are saturated with thick petroleum commonly called tar because of its dark color and strong odor. The mining of Alberta oil sands has become profitable, and extensive deposits of oil in Alberta oil sands have been reclassified from potential to proven reserves in recent years. b. Hydraulic Fracturing: Rocks break apart naturally, and gas can fill the space between the rocks. Hydraulic fracturing, commonly called fracking, involves pumping water at high pressure to further break apart rocks and thereby release more gas than can be extracted.

96. What are three benefits to using this source of energy?

a. The Sun's remaining life is estimated at 5 billion years, and humans appear to be incapable of destroying or depleting that resource. b. The sun's energy is free and ubiquitous and cannot be exclusively owned, bought, or sold by any particular individual or enterprise. c. Utilizing the Sun as a resource does not damage the environment or cause pollution, as does the extraction and burning of non-renewable fossil fuels.

91. For some people, what are two criticisms of using wind-generated power?

a. They can be noisy and lethal for birds and bats. b. They are a visual blight and can ruin the view when built in places of outstanding beauty.

55. What are two challenges associated with the use of resources?

a. We deplete scarce resources, especially petroleum, natural gas, and coal, for energy production. b. We destroy resources through pollution of air, water, and soil

120. Medical problems that can result from breathing air or consuming water contaminated with toxic waste include _________________.

cancer, mutations, chronic ailments, and even immediate death.

105. The Earth's protective ozone layer is threatened by pollutants called ________, such as Freon once commonly used in refrigerators and air conditioners.

chlorofluorocarbons

55. The three fossil fuels are ________________________.

coal, petroleum, and natural gas.

76. Nuclear power plants create electricity through the process of ________, the splitting of uranium atoms in a controlled environment.

fission

120. Examples of hazardous waste include ________________.

heavy metals, PCB oils from electrical equipment, cyanides, strong solvents, acids, and caustics.

113. The heaviest demand for water today is for ______________.

human purposes, economic activities, and recreational activities.

96. Where is the largest concentration of potential customers for solar power to be found in the world today?

sub-Saharan Africa

Nuclear power is considered non-renewable due to the limited amounts of the required material, e.g. uranium, available. However, the big advantage of nuclear power is __________________.

the large amount of energy released from a small amount of material