ENVR 1301 Jennifer M

  Air Pollution Basics Air pollution is defined as gaseous air pollutants emitted from natural sources as well as anthropogenic (man made) sources into the atmosphere. All air pollutants affect air quality and can affect the quality of life for people and animals in areas affected by it, including causing or exacerbating disease, and in extreme cases causing death by suffocation. Some examples of natural sources of air pollution are fires (which produce carbon dioxide and release soot into the atmosphere) and volcanoes. Man made emissions from industrial processes have increased dramatically since the 1900s and are potentially greater than natural forms of pollution (Freeman). Sulfur Pollutants: One of the most important pollutants to be aware of is sulfur pollutants, specifically Sulfur dioxide or SO2, which can come from volcanoes and fires, but also from burning fossil fuels like coal and oil. This is a pollutant that is toxic to plants, animals, and humans (Freeman).  Nitr...

1. Exploratory                                     Solar farms are becoming more common, and the article discusses a solar farm specifically on Silicon Ranch in Nashville that is used to power Facebook’s data center. 2. Diagnostic                                         The motivation for building solar farms is that it is a form of renewable energy. The example provided in the article also explains that even though the land is going to be used for a solar farm, that doesn’t mean that it can’t also be used for animals. They plan to use the land for cattle as well as solar power. 3. Cause and Effect                 ...

 Alternative energy (frequently referred to as renewable energy) is any energy source that is continuously and readily available without the risk of it being depleted. A few well known examples of alternative energy are solar energy, hydroelectric energy, and wind energy. Alternative energy is different from conventional energy in that conventional energy, such as nuclear power or fossil fuels, are not renewable - meaning, once they are used up they are gone for good and cannot be replaced. There are also energy sources that are considered ‘semi-renewable’; these are sources that, although they can be depleted, if they are used at a sustainable rate they can be used for potentially thousands of years. A well known example of this type of energy is biomass, which is composed of wood and wood processing waste, animal manure and human sewage, and municipal solid waste (eia.gov).   In the 1970’s, the Organization of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries (OAPEC), in response to U...

  In the last 15 years there has been a lot of debate - and confusion - over the term “clean coal.” What does “clean coal” actually mean? Is it better for the planet, or just as bad as ‘traditional’ coal… and for that matter, what’s the difference? Despite what coal industry leaders would have you believe, “clean coal” is something of a misnomer. There is no such thing as truly “clean coal” in terms of environmental protection, and the term is simply a buzz phrase invented to sway public opinion on how coal affects the planet.   The true difference between “clean coal” and traditional coal mining is in a practice implemented during the mining process known as carbon capture and storage. In this process, the CO2 emitted during the mining process is recaptured and sent via a pipeline down into the earth for storage, to prevent it from being released into the atmosphere (Grossman). Usually the locations that are chosen for CO2 relocation are areas that have already been excavated...

  Natural Resources Concept Map, made by Jennifer Mouser using Text2Map, https://tobloef.com/text2mindmap/, click to enlarge Natural resources are things found on Earth that humans use to survive, ranging from the food we eat for energy, to wood we burn in a fireplace to stay warm in the winter. Natural resources are essential to life on Earth, without them life could not exist. There are two main categories of resources: renewable, which can be quickly replaced by natural processes (such as wind and sunlight), and nonrenewable resources, that are exhaustible and cannot be readily replaced by natural processes (such as fossil fuels and minerals).  Although nonrenewable resources cannot be readily replaced, there are steps that can be taken to reduce the amounts that are used. As mentioned in the Exploring Natural Resources video, some companies, particularly car companies, are opting to use lighter, reusable materials in their manufacturing processes that are less taxing...