Lec 4

Question 1

Renewable resources

Answer 1

Resources that can be replenished over short periods of time

Sunlight, wind, organic matter etc.

Question 2

Non-renewable resources

Answer 2

Can not be replenished or take a very long time to be replenished

As they are used, their remaining stock in the environment becomes depleted

Cannot be used in a sustainable fashion, can only be “mined”

Fossil fuels, minerals, aquifer water

Question 3

Sustainability

Answer 3

The process of living within the limits of available physical, neutral and social resources in ways that allow the living systems in which humans are embedded to thrive in perpetuity

Question 4

Fossil fuels

Answer 4

Highly combustible substances formed from remains of organisms that accumulate over time in sediments

Question 5

Natural gas

Answer 5

Mostly methane, with some additional volatile hydrocarbons

Question 6

Volatile

Answer 6

Can become a gas easily, has high vapor pressure

Question 7

Biogenic natural gas

Answer 7

Formed at “shallow” depths

Formed via anaerobic decomposition of organic material by bacteria

Question 8

Thermogenic

Answer 8

Formed at deeper depths

Formed via compression and heating of organic materials

Question 9

How is natural gas extracted today

Answer 9

Fracking (hydraulic fracturing)

Question 10

Pros of fracking

Answer 10

Get natural gas and other fuels that otherwise are locked up

Provides economic benefit

Question 11

Cons of fracking

Answer 11

Massive potential environmental implications

Can cause earthquakes

Risk of groundwater contamination

Risk of pond spills

Loud and ugly

Question 12

Other non-traditional gas sources

Answer 12

Landfills

Farms

Question 13

The problem with natural gas

Answer 13

It is getting harder to extract

Fracking-based methods can be harmful for human health and the environment

We are running out

Question 14

Coal

Answer 14

Organic material that has been so compressed is had become rock

Question 15

Problems with metal and all types of mining

Answer 15

Erosion

Acid drainage (lots of water used and lots of chemicals deposited)

Toxic tailings

Loss of habitats and biodiversity to create a mine

Question 16

Diamonds and gemstone mining

Answer 16

Started mining in Canada in the mid 90s

Important from an economic POV

Occurs in more Arctic area

Question 17

Most important nuclear fuels

Answer 17

Uranium and plutonium

Question 18

Use of nuclear fuels

Answer 18

Decay through fission into lighter elements, use the released heat energy to produce steam and then electricity

Question 19

Is nuclear fuel problematic for the environment

Answer 19

No but the location of the plant can be

Question 20

In situ leach mining

Answer 20

Mixing water with chemicals in order to create nuclear fuel

Problem for the environment

The water and chemical mix is released back into the environment

Question 21

Greatest use of phosphorous (P)

Answer 21

Fertilizer

Question 22

Problems with Mining P

Answer 22

Phosphate is mined as an ore which causes air pollution, water contamination and wildlife habitat destruction

Question 23

Solutions to fossil fuels

Answer 23

Wind energy

Solar energy

Hydro energy

Question 24

Solutions to harmful metals and gems

Answer 24

Better waste management

Reduce

Reuse

Recycle

Question 25

Solution to nuclear fuel problems

Answer 25

Use uranium and plutonium in a safe way Build nuclear plants in a safer area Use more efficient tools such as fast-breeder reactors

Question 26

Phosphorous mining solutions

Answer 26

Stop using excess fertilizer Increase erosion controls (stop digging up soil to reach the phosphate)

Question 27

Resource

Answer 27

Stuff we use to live comfortably

Question 28

Peat

Answer 28

Coal precursor Compressed soil with decomposed organic matter (mostly decayed plants) Under high pressure and heat, it undergoes physical and chemical changes and becomes coal

Question 29

How is coal mined

Answer 29

Subsurface mining Strip mining

Question 30

Problems with burning coal

Answer 30

Formation of smog Production of the highest amount of CO2 per unit heat

Question 31

"Clean" coal

Answer 31

Use methods to reduce the amount of SO2 and NO(X) emissions Still produces massive amounts of CO2

Question 32

Outlook for coal

Answer 32

Clean tech helps, but we still need to reduce the use of coal

Question 33

Oil

Answer 33

Eclipsed coal as the most popular source of energy in the 60s Canada is the 5th largest oil producer and the 7th largest consumer

Question 34

Tailing ponds

Answer 34

Engineered dam facilities to store tailings safely

Question 35

Problems with tailing ponds

Answer 35

Air pollution Water pollution (Crude leaks, hydrocarbons) Soil pollution (solid waste put into landfills, can reach soil)

Question 36

Problem with burning oil

Answer 36

CO2 and other GGs

Question 37

Peak Oil: The Hubbert Peak Theory

Answer 37

Point of maximum global production of oil Oil production will eventually decline until all oil is depleted Should be right about now

Question 38

Outlook for oil

Answer 38

Really need to reduce our reliance on oil as a fuel Save it for plastics and other non-fuel uses It is dirty, dangerous and limited

Question 39

Metals

Answer 39

All metals are limited in quantities