Renewable and Nonrenewable Resources Chapter 2

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Renewable and Nonrenewable ResourcesChapter 2
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Theme Outline

• Lesson 2.3
• Distribution and Management of Natural Resources
• Pennsylvania Coal
• Coal and the Environment
• Pennsylvania Power Plants
• Conservation

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PA Academic Standards for Environment Ecology

• Standard 4.2.10.C
• Analyze how man-made systems have impacted the
  management and distribution of natural resources.
• Explain the complete cycle of a natural resource,
  from extraction to disposal, detailing its uses
  and effects on the environment.
• Analyze energy uses and energy conservation in
  different regions.
• Examine conservation practices in different
  countries.
• Analyze the costs and benefits of different
  man-made systems and how they use renewable and
  nonrenewable natural resources.
• Analyze the impact of information systems on
  management and distribution of natural resources.

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Learning Objectives

• Students will analyze the costs and benefits of
  different types of power plants and how they use
  renewable and nonrenewable natural resources.
• Students will use Pennsylvania coal to explain
  the complete cycle of a natural resource, how it
  is used, and its effects on the environment.
• Students will learn about some of the global
  organizations and agencies that work to conserve
  global resources.
• Students will analyze the impact of information
  systems on management and distribution of natural
  resources.

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Distribution and Management of Natural Resources

• Pennsylvania Coal
• Mining Pennsylvanias Coals
• Coal and the Environment
• Pennsylvania Power Plants
• Coal-burning Power Plants
• Nuclear Power Plants
• Hydroelectric Power Plants
• Conservation

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Pennsylvania Coal

• Common mining techniques
• Room and pillar method
• Long wall method
• Surface mining method

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Room and pillar method

• Definition mining method in which rooms are cut
  into a coal bed, leaving a series of pillars, or
  columns of coal, to help support the mine roof
  and control the flow of air

• Rooms are typically 20-30 feet wide
• Pillars are generally about 100 feet wide.
• Workers typically remove as much coal as possible
  until the roof falls in.
• Mines are typically abandoned when the retreat
  process is complete.

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Room and pillar method
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Longwall Method

• Definition procedure in mining in which a
  cutting head moves back and forth across a coal
  seam, causing pieces of coal to fall onto a
  flexible conveyor for removal from the mine

• Cutting heads move along coal seams, breaking off
  layers of coal and transporting them out of the
  mine using conveyor systems.
• Special roof supports are moved as the roof is
  cut, to ensure the stability of the mine.

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Surface Mining

• Draglines, bulldozers, and front-end loaders
  remove overburden from the coal seam.
• Explosions are sometimes used to loosen coal
  formations.
• Surface mining occurs on level surfaces, follows
  coal seams along hillside, and uses open pits
  where thick coal seams are found.

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Acid Mine Drainage (AMD)

• Definition exposure of pyrite to air and water
  during mining, causing sulfuric acid and iron
  hydroxide to form

• Pyrite
• Fools gold
• Found in large amounts in bituminous coal
• When exposed to air and water, sulfuric acid and
  iron hydroxide form

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Why is AMD a concern?

• Enters freshwater systems and air supplies from
  surface sources and underground sources
• Lowers pH of freshwater systems
• Covers river and stream channels with iron
  hydroxide, a yellowish-orange compound

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So what do we do with mined areas?

• Mining of any resource, including coal, can
  greatly alter a natural landscape
• Historically active mines (prior to 1970s)
  operated until all of the economically
  harvestable coal was removed, then mines were
  abandoned.
• Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act (1977)

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Reclamation

• Definition restoration of mined land to its
  original condition by reconstructing the lands
  topography and replanting vegetation

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Pennsylvania Power Plants

• Major types of Power Plants
• Coal-burning power plants
• Mainly steam-turbine plants that burn bituminous
  coal to generate heat which turns water into
  steam which spins a series of turbines. PA has
  16.
• Nuclear power plants
• Mainly steam-turbine plants that use fission to
  break specific types of uranium generate heat
  which turns water into steam which spins a series
  of turbines. PA currently has 5 in operation.
• Hydroelectric power plants
• Mainly turbine plants that use the energy from
  moving water to generate electricity by spinning
  a series of turbines

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Conservation

• Definition careful use of a resource so that its
  supply will last longer

• Best addressed by a series of questions
• How can humans limit their dependence on
  nonrenewable energy sources?
• How can humans begin to utilize alternative
  energy strategies as primary energy sources?
• How can humans economically promote the use of
  renewable energy systems?
• How can humans increase the efficiency of
  existing materials, and further improve the
  efficiency of future materials?

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