Environmental Geology

1. Environmental Geology

2. Sections • 1. Fossil Fuels • 2. Alternate Energy • 3. Resource Extraction • 4. Agriculture/Aquaculture • 5. Human Impact On The Lithosphere

3. Fossil Fuels

4. NATURAL RESOURCES • Natural Resources are resources that the Earth provides • Renewable –Easily replaceable • Non-Renewable –Not easily replaceable • Fossil Fuels

5. FOSSIL FUELS • Fossil Fuels are energy resources that are formed from fossils • Coal • Natural Gas • Petroleum • Main source of energy for developed nations

6. PETROLEUM/ NATURAL GAS • Petroleum- Crude oil is oil that is pumped from the ground • Used to power cars • Natural gas is a flammable gas composed of hydrocarbons that is used for energy • Heating homes

7. Petroleum/Natural Gas • Oil and natural gas are formed from tiny marine organisms that accumulate on the bottom of oceans when they die • Over time these dead organisms are buried by sediment, become heated and are chemically transformed into oil or natural gas

9. COAL • Coal is a sedimentary rock forms from the remains of plants that accumulate at the bottom of swamps • Over millions of years they become compressed into coal • Most coals formed during the Carboniferous (Paleozoic Era) • Is burned to produce energy

10. peat • Peat is an accumulation of partially decayed vegetation • Forms when plant material cannot fully decay because it is exposed to acidic and anaerobic (no oxygen) conditions • Is harvested and used to provide more nutrients to soil

11. Nuclear fission • Nuclear Fission – Heavy elements (uranium, plutonium) are split apart and this process releases energy • Does not produce CO2 when used • Can lead to a nuclear meltdown however

12. FOSSIL FUELS • Fossil Fuels release harmful pollutants into the atmosphere • Carbon Dioxide is a green house gas • Greenhouse gases trap heat within the atmosphere and can potentially cause global warming

14. Fossil fuels • Fossil fuels are non-renewable • Will run out in the next century • Humans must find another method of acquiring energy

15. Alternate Energy

16. Alternative Energy • Scientists have developed energy resources that are an alternate to fossil fuels • Solar Energy • Wind Energy • Hydroelectric Energy • Geothermal Energy • Nuclear Energy • Biofuels • While all of them reduce the emissions of greenhouse gases none of them are considered to be sustainable

17. Solar Energy • Solar Energy uses photovoltaic (PV) panels to convert sunlight into electricity • North Carolina Solar House at NC State • House is run entirely off of solar energy

19. Solar Energy • Advantages • Produces no pollution • Provides free energy • Very quiet • Disadvantages: • Initial cost of solar panels is expensive • Only work during daylight hours.

20. Nuclear Energy • In nuclear fission, uranium/plutonium nuclei split into smaller nuclei and emit neutrons and heat energy • North Carolina State Nuclear Plant

21. North Carolina State University Nuclear Plant

22. Nuclear Energy • Advantages: • Create very small amounts of pollution • Very reliable • Disadvantages: • Radioactive waste (must be monitored for 10,000 years after it is used • Threat of nuclear terrorism/Meltdown

23. Wind Energy • Using the energy of wind to power a turbine • Done in coastal areas • Advantages • Self-sustaining • Does not impact ecosystems • Disadvantages: • Not 100% reliable • High initial cost • Takes up a large amount of land

24. Modern Vertical Wind Turbine

25. Wind in North Carolina

26. Hydroelectric Power • Hydroelectric power is the power generated by falling water. • Water flows through a dam and turns a turbine • Cowans Ford Hydro Station, Huntersville, N.C., • Advantages: • No fossil fuels • Controls flooding • Very few breakdowns • Disadvantages: • Disrupts natural ecosystems • Expensive to build

27. Geothermal Energy • Geothermal Energy takes heat from Earth’s interior • Heat within the Earth raises the temperature of groundwater • Water is converted to steam • Can only be done near plate boundaries • Not in North Carolina

30. Biofuels • Biofuels are energy resources that come from living organisms. • Bioethanol • Biodiesel • Biofuels are converted from Biomass • Biomass – Material left over from a once living plant or animal

31. Biofuels • Advantages: • Less expensive than gasoline • Carbon Emissions are less than gasoline • Are more quickly renewed than gasoline • Disadvantages: • Have lower energy output • Could cause food shortages • Could cause water shortage

32. Resource Extraction

33. Obtaining Resources • In order to obtain resources humans must utilize one of the following methods • Harvesting – Wood, Peat • Mining – Coal, Uranium/Plutonium • Drilling – Oil, Natural Gas • Each method has an impact on the lithosphere and the environment

34. Wood Harvesting • Trees are harvested and cut down in order to provide: • Paper • Lumber • Plywood • Furniture • Provides resources for humans however it destroys ecosystems • Oxygen will decrease, Carbon Dioxide will increase

35. Peat Harvesting • Peat is used to add nutrients and other chemicals to soils to make them more fertile • In order to harvest peat: • The peat is first dried by the sun • The peat is then collected by a large vacuum • The peat is then taken to a processing factory • Peat is renewable however does disrupt ecosystems

36. Coal Mining • There are 2 major methods of coal mining: • Surface Mining-The surface of the lithosphere is stripped in order to obtain coal • Underground mining-A mine is dug underground in order to extract coal • Coal mining is harmful to the environment because: • It disrupts the landscape of the lithosphere  Causes erosion • Leaves behind toxic substances  Pollute air and water

38. Uranium/Plutonium Mining • There are 3 methods for mining Uranium and Plutonium: • Open Pit Mining – Machines dig a pit and remove the rocks containing the uranium • Underground Mining • In-Situ Leaching - A mixture of chemicals is injected into the ground and these chemicals separate out the uranium so it can be extracted • All of these methods create health risks for workers

40. Oil Drilling • Oil is contained inside of rocks that prevent it from escaping (Oil Traps) • Oil rigs are used to drill inside of the rocks and pump the oil out • Concerns about oil drilling: • Oil spills – Could destroy ecosystems and affect wildlife • Disrupts the lithosphere

42. Natural Gas Drilling • Natural gas is obtained from hydrofracking • Rock near the bottom of a well is broken up • Used in order to increase the flow of natural gas from the well • Environmental Effects: • Accidents can cause hazardous chemicals to escape • Produces waste that must be disposed of

43. Agriculture/Aquaculture

44. Agriculture • Agriculture is the cultivation of organisms for human benefit to sustain life • Key development in the rise of human civilization • Raising domesticated species

45. Aquaculture • Aquaculture-Farming of aquatic organisms: • Fish • Crustaceans • Mollusks • Aquatic plants • Requires raising controlled marine populations under controlled conditions

46. Traditional Agriculture/Aquaculture • Traditional methods – Farmers have a mixture of livestock and crops. Use manure to fertilize crops. • Allows them to have to purchase the minimal amount of supplies outside the farm

47. Traditional Agriculture/Aquaculture • Advantages: • Crops are pure, fresher and more healthy • Can be sold at very high prices • Disadvantages: • Time consuming, farmers have to spend 15 hours to harvest crops • Long time to harvest • Crops could be contaminated by toxins and pesticides

48. Sustainable Agriculture/Aquaculture • Sustainable Practices – Take ecological principles into account • When farmers harvest crops they remove nutrients from the soil • Damages the entire ecosystem • Sustainable agriculture replenishes soil and reduces the usage of non-renewable resources

49. Sustainable Agriculture/Aquaculture • Advantages: • Economically sustainable • Environmentally sound • Good for families and communities • Disadvantages: • Reduced productivity • Requires higher investments • Requires more knowledge to be successful

50. Human Impact on the lithosphere