Barrons AP Environmental Science

and flow out of the well. This oil and natural gas was previously unavailable for extraction through other tra ...

During nuclear fission, an atom splits into two or more smaller nuclei along with by-product particles (n ...

the speed of the neutrons is slowed down through the use of a moderator. Less than 1% of all natural ...

Figure 8.8 Countries that produce the most amount of nuclear power (GW) The United States is the world’s ...

Figure 8.9 Diagram of a nuclear power plant A. CORE—contains up to 50,000 fuel rods. Each fuel rod is st ...

■ Water pollution is low. ■ Disruption of land is low to moderate. ■ Nuclear power plants provide a stable b ...

■ CO 2 and other wastes are released during the enrichment process. ■ Uranium is a nonrenewable resource. ■ Exp ...

Figure 8.10 Carbon distribution on Earth Pros ■ Expands natural gas reserves 160 times above the current avail ...

Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration and U.S. Geological Survey Figure 8.11 Major world oil shale de ...

■ Causes a negative impact on the local environment (e.g., increased truck traffic, more rigs traveling ...

Tar sands contain bitumen—a semi-solid form of oil that does not flow. Specialized refineries are c ...

to global energy consumption and about 25% to the generation of electricity in 2016. Source: International Renewable ...

PROS ■ Reduces the reliance on coal and oil, thereby reducing the amount of mercury, sulfur, and particulates ...

Source: United Nations Environment Programme—Division of Technology, Industry, and Economics Figure 8.13 Anaerobic di ...

Source: U.S. Energy Information Agency Figure 8.14 Biomass electricity generation in the United States (2005– 2015) ...

■ Biofuel is a renewable energy source as long as it is used sustainably (e.g., addressing soil erosion a ...

■ Requires adequate water and fertilizer, sources of which are declining. ■ The corn being diverted to produ ...

PROS ■ Moderate net-energy yield. ■ Limitless and reliable source, if managed properly. ■ Little air pollution; small ...

Figure 8.16 Typical hydroelectric dam There are approximately 75,000 dams in the United States that ...

and trucks. PROS ■ Dams help control flooding. ■ Low operating and maintenance costs, which result in affordable el ...