SUMMARY
The article discusses the current issues with burning coal in the U.S. In solution, IGCC plants have played a role with them. Today there is more then 380 parts per million of CO2 which is more we had around the time of the industrial revolution. To gasify the coal you must heat it to about 2,000 degrees fahrenheit in a sealed chamber and also add some steam and a tiny bit of oxygen. The gas that comes off is mostly made up of carbon monixidem hydrogen sulfer and nitrogen compoundes. Today the gasification plant produces about 200 million cubic feet of carbon dioxide a day. Tampa IGCC plant is a natrual gas power plant. There are many objections to IGCC power plants These plants are expensive to run, but in order to be more energy efficent and create energy to suffice our shortage, the U.S. is making an attempt to switch to all IGCC powered plants.
ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS
1. The IGCC is an efficient solution to lowering the effects of global warming. It reduces pollutants but can't eliminate them. It is capable of bringing global warming under control and slowing it down.
2. Right now the IGCC is not about CO2 emission reduction. Yet, it's capable of being able to do so in the future. The plant in Tampa is equipt to eliminate CO2 emission and will be prepared to do so if a law comes into action against it.
3. The IGCC can also be a solution to the energy shortage because it can create renewable energy. Creating energy can be expensive, meaning that there needs to be some work down to completely fufill the energy shortage.
QUESTIONS
1. How long do we think intill global warming would take effect?
2. How many IGCC plants will they create?
3. Will the goverment end up thinking CO2 is a pollutant?
UNKNOWN WORDS
greenhouse gas- a gas that contributes to the greenhouse effect by absorbing infrared radiation
Gasification- The process of changing into gas.
Monday, January 18, 2010
Thursday, January 14, 2010
Acid Rain Issue
SUMMARY
In the late 1970's acid rain in China became a huge environmental problem. The deposition of pollutants occured in forested areas as a result of acid rain. A major cause of acid rain is the extensive use of coal. Acid rain has been a well known environmental problem for decades. Surface water adicification caused the loss of fish populations. In the 1970's the discovery of acidified waters were also found in the Adirondack region of New York. Natural acidity orginated in the terrestial ecosystem.
UNKNOWN WORDS
Anthropogenic- Caused or influenced by humans. Anthropogenic carbon dioxide is that portion of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere that is produced directly by human activities, such as the burning of fossil fuels, rather than by such processes as respiration and decay.
Degradation- the act of degrading
Defoliation- to destroy or cause a widespread loss
The contributors of acid rain issue in China are emmisions and sulfur deposition. Nitrogen from cars, power production and agriculture. Also the use of coal. The lowest pH level was less than 4.0. The impacts are acidification of surface water and oils. Acid rain and the reduction policy are the main focus of research.
QUESTIONS
Why is there such little information about the effects of acid deposition on terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems in China?
What will actually happen with alkine dust in the future?
The acid-rain production policies are causing so much expense for the countries, why is that?
In the late 1970's acid rain in China became a huge environmental problem. The deposition of pollutants occured in forested areas as a result of acid rain. A major cause of acid rain is the extensive use of coal. Acid rain has been a well known environmental problem for decades. Surface water adicification caused the loss of fish populations. In the 1970's the discovery of acidified waters were also found in the Adirondack region of New York. Natural acidity orginated in the terrestial ecosystem.
UNKNOWN WORDS
Anthropogenic- Caused or influenced by humans. Anthropogenic carbon dioxide is that portion of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere that is produced directly by human activities, such as the burning of fossil fuels, rather than by such processes as respiration and decay.
Degradation- the act of degrading
Defoliation- to destroy or cause a widespread loss
The contributors of acid rain issue in China are emmisions and sulfur deposition. Nitrogen from cars, power production and agriculture. Also the use of coal. The lowest pH level was less than 4.0. The impacts are acidification of surface water and oils. Acid rain and the reduction policy are the main focus of research.
QUESTIONS
Why is there such little information about the effects of acid deposition on terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems in China?
What will actually happen with alkine dust in the future?
The acid-rain production policies are causing so much expense for the countries, why is that?
Monday, January 11, 2010
Marcellus Shale Assignment 1
SUMMARY
The Marcellus Shale is located in Pennsylvania where the Appalachian Mountains stand. It's a sedimentary rock formation deposited over 350 million years ago. The article discussed the new technologies of drilling, the importance of the shale, and concerns about drilling and water waste. Overtime the shale formed Hydrocarbons including natural gases. Disposal and water waste is one of the main concerns of Marcellus Shale. The Marcellus Shale is being developed now based on two things. One being the low price and second because of the interest in devonian shale was not existent. The large drilling site allowed the reader to decide if they agree with drilling or not. All in all, the article was filled with a lot of facts and data, which was very informative.
QUESTIONS
1. There are some arguments for the support of the opposition of gas drilling. Mainly to avoid hurting local water resources while drilling, and the destruction of moving supplies and machinery.
2. I felt the references were cited fine and gave enough credibility. In a way they showed more of the support of drilling. Besides that, I felt they were fine.
3. I found that Figure 7 can be misleading to many. We as the readers aren't positive of what the substance is in the scientist hand.
QUESTIONS
Why would they want to risk contaminating the water?
What does the U.S department of energy do mainly?
Where does the U.S department stand on the drilling topic?
UNKNOWN WORDS
permeability- the property of something that can't be pervaded by a liquid
borehole- a narrow shift drill found in the ground
Hydrofrac- method used to create fractures that extend from a borehole into rock formations
The Marcellus Shale is located in Pennsylvania where the Appalachian Mountains stand. It's a sedimentary rock formation deposited over 350 million years ago. The article discussed the new technologies of drilling, the importance of the shale, and concerns about drilling and water waste. Overtime the shale formed Hydrocarbons including natural gases. Disposal and water waste is one of the main concerns of Marcellus Shale. The Marcellus Shale is being developed now based on two things. One being the low price and second because of the interest in devonian shale was not existent. The large drilling site allowed the reader to decide if they agree with drilling or not. All in all, the article was filled with a lot of facts and data, which was very informative.
QUESTIONS
1. There are some arguments for the support of the opposition of gas drilling. Mainly to avoid hurting local water resources while drilling, and the destruction of moving supplies and machinery.
2. I felt the references were cited fine and gave enough credibility. In a way they showed more of the support of drilling. Besides that, I felt they were fine.
3. I found that Figure 7 can be misleading to many. We as the readers aren't positive of what the substance is in the scientist hand.
QUESTIONS
Why would they want to risk contaminating the water?
What does the U.S department of energy do mainly?
Where does the U.S department stand on the drilling topic?
UNKNOWN WORDS
permeability- the property of something that can't be pervaded by a liquid
borehole- a narrow shift drill found in the ground
Hydrofrac- method used to create fractures that extend from a borehole into rock formations
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