GEOG 1070 Chapter 12: Reading Notes
Document Summary
Geog 1070: contemporary environmental issues reading notes chapter 12. Solar thermal electric generation producing electricity by using the suns energy in concentration to mirrors or lenses to either heat a fluid filed pipe or drive a stirling engine. Pv cells are only 15-18% efficient at converting solar energy to electricity. Biomass plant material used as fuel: contains chemical energy from the sun"s radiation that organisms use to form organic molecules, renewable if moderated. The reservoir became highly polluted and flooding occurred, Ocean thermal energy conversion and ocean wave energy might also be waterborne diseases increased produced. Tidal energy: water at high tide has high amounts of potential energy that can be captured with a dam across a bay or a turbine and converted into electricity, not expected to increase. Contaminant stayed inside the building: 1986 in chernobyl plant in soviet union. Explosions ripped apart a nuclear reactor and radioisotopes quickly spread across europe.