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Traditional Energy Sources. DO NOW ! Silently read the article and answer the following questions (also found at the bottom of the article). What are some negative impacts of mountaintop mining discussed in the article?
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DO NOW! Silently read the article and answer the following questions (also found at the bottom of the article) • What are some negative impacts of mountaintop mining discussed in the article? • How much of NC’s electricity is generated using coal from mountaintop mining? • Do you think mountain top mining should continue? Why or why not? • What are some alternatives to produce energy rather than using coal from mountain top mining?
Learning Goal • Explain and evaluate how we acquire our traditional energy sources (coal, petroleum oil, natural gas).
Process of Coal Formation 1. Ancient trees and plants died in swamps and formed peat. 2. Over millions of years sediment covered the peat, forming sedimentary rock. 3. Pressuresqueezed out the water, fossilized it and turned it into coal.
Process of Natural Gas & Oil Formation 1. Animalsin ocean died and were covered in sediment. 2. Pressure and heat turned the animal remains into oil and gas. 3. As earth’s surface changed, oil and gas became trapped in the rock.
Mining • Mining used to get the coal (for power plants) and uranium (for nuclear energy).
RECLAMATION • After mining companies must return the land to its original condition. • Material replacement (making the land LOOK the same) • Replacing vegetation and top soil.
Strip Mining in NC • Google Earth Hero: Appalachian Voices • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AzmrohA0aNc
Cookie Mining Lab 1. Imagine your cookie was a mountain with soil and trees on the top. What would be some of the negative impacts of the mining process? 2. Explain what you did with your cookie crumbs after the mining was over (process of reclamation) 3. How would this mining process lead to increased erosion? What are the effects of increased erosion (think about things we talked about during the rock cycle!)
Negative environmental impacts of mining • Releases acids into the water supply (can harm plants and animals). • Methane is released (greenhouse gas) • Destroys vegetation, soil, wildlife, and their habitat • Permanently changes the topography of the area • Reduces biodiversity (extinction of organisms) • Reduces air quality (diseases & death)
Articles-Pair/Share • Work silently with a partner • Identify and record negative impacts of mining • Be prepared to share out your information
EXIT TICKET 1. Describe the process used to acquire coal and uranium. 2. How do we get oil and natural gas? 3. What is reclamation? Why is reclamation important? 4. Explain two negative consequences of strip mining of coal.
Homework • Write a letter to President Obama. In your letter, explain why we should begin using alternative forms of energy instead of oil, coal, or natural gas. You need to support your argument. Use what you have learned over the past few days, including what you learned today about the negative impact of gathering these forms of energy.