Resource: Ch. 1 of The Human Impact on the Natural Environment

Prepare a 10- to 15-slide Microsoft^® PowerPoint^® presentation with 350- to 700- word notes examining how population trends lead to urbanization and animal decline.

• Refer to Table 1.3 in Ch. 1 of The Human Impact on the Natural Environment, which lists the five stages of global economic development.
• Examine the population trends in the two most recent stages of economic development:
• The Atlantic industrial era
• The Pacific global era
• Compare the environmental conditions between these two eras and with what occurred in the first three stages of global economic development.
• Explain how the population trends in these eras led to urbanization.
• Choose one of the world’s urban agglomerations listed in Table 1.7.
• Identify three environmental effects cause by urbanization in this area.
• Identify a specific animal population decline that resulted from urbanization in this area.

Cite at least three references.

Format your paper consistent with APA guidelines.

 

600 words Paper

5 Sources in APA format

 

11 Slides Presentation

Scored: 10/10

 

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Question

Question 1.1. (TCO 7) The largest single end-use category of petroleum consumption in the United States is (Points : 4)

industry.

electrical generation.

home heating.

hot water heating.

transportation.

Question 2.2. (TCO 7) Which statement is false about solar energy? (Points : 4)

It is very abundant.

It is nonpolluting.

It is essentially everlasting.

It is limited, especially in terrestrial ecosystems.

It is the ultimate source of energy for nearly all ecosystems.

Question 3.3. (TCO 7) OPEC stands for (Points : 4)

The Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries.

Occidental, Phillips, Exxon and Chevron.

The Oil Producing and Exporting Cartel.

The Ocean Power Energy Commission.

The Organization for Petroleum Exploration Commission.

Question 4.4. (TCO 4) In the United States of America, the Kudzu Vine is an example of _____ specie. (Points : 4)

an endangered plant

an introduced plant

a threatened plant

an endemic plant

an extinct plant

Question 5.5. (TCO 4) A grouping of plants, animals, and microbes interacting with each other and their abiotic environment is defined as (Points : 4)

a biosphere.

a community.

an ecosystem.

a specie.

an association.

Question 6.6. (TCO 5) Which of the following is true of the status of women in developing countries? (Points : 4)

Women are not interested in further education or employment.

Women are given equal opportunities in education and employment.

Lack of education and discrimination limit economic opportunities for women.

Women are better educated than men.

Lack of education does not limit economic opportunities for women.

Question 7.7. (TCO 6) Total fertility refers to (Points : 4)

the number of children born in a country during a given year.

the average age at which women in a given country become sexually active.

the average number of children born per woman over her lifetime.

the number of children who survive to become reproductive adults.

the ratio of men to women in a population.

Question 8.8. (TCO 5) Women tend to have fewer and healthier children when they (Points : 4)

live in societies where they have few rights.

have access to education and career choices.

do not have access to paying jobs outside the home.

live in rural areas that have no access to birth control.

are persons of each sex ages 15 to 44.

Question 9.9. (TCO 6) Which of the following statistics are used to measure population growth rates? (Points : 4)

Emigration rates

Birth rates

Immigration rates

Death rates

All of the above

Question 10.10. (TCO 2) Which of the following are the three major gases in biogeochemical cycles? (Points : 4)

Nitrogen, ozone, hydrogen

Sulfur, ozone, helium

Nitrogen, oxygen, carbon dioxide

Oxygen, ammonia, nitrogen

Carbon dioxide, methane, oxygen

Question 11.11. (TCO 10) In general, urban dwellers have all of the following except (Points : 4)

better access to medical care.

less exposure to pollution and noise.

increased chances of physical injuries.

better access to education.

better access to social services.

Question 12.12. (TCO 10) Today’s cities are not self-sustaining because they import (Points : 4)

minerals.

food.

energy.

manufactured goods.

All of the above

Question 13.13. (TCO 10) Which of the following is the strongest argument for recycling plastics? (Points : 4)

Plastics burn hot and with little ash in WTE incinerators.

Plastics do not contribute to leachate in landfills.

Plastics do not generate biogas in landfills.

Plastics are produced from the fossil fuel petroleum.

Plastics are biodegradable.

Question 14.14. (TCO 10) A system of integrated waste management involves (Points : 4)

landfills.

recycling.

composting.

incinerating

a combination of ways to handle MSW.

Question 15.15. (TCO 1) Environmental impacts because of the strain of supporting 1.2 billion people in India include (Points : 4)

soil erosion.

air pollution in urban areas.

seriously polluted water.

deforestation.

All of the above

Question 16.16. (TCO 8) Dead zones in the Gulf of Mexico result from nutrient pollution in the Midwestern United States where (Points : 4)

nitrogen and phosphorus leach from soils with low nutrient-holding capacity.

nitrogen and phosphorus leach from soils with high nutrient-holding capacity.

iron and aluminum oxides leach from soils with low nutrient-holding capacity.

iron and aluminum oxides leach from soils with high nutrient-holding capacity.

sulfur and nitrogen leach from soils with high nutrient-holding capacity.

Question 17.17. (TCO 9) Climate change and global warming affects which of the following? (Points : 4)

Aquatic flora and fauna

Terrestrial flora and fauna

Climatic conditions

Agricultural practices

All of the above

Question 18.18. (TCO 3) Meeting higher CAFÉ standards in the United States will result in (Points : 4)

fewer coal-burning power plants.

increased reliance upon wind and solar energy.

increased reliance upon natural gas.

better gas mileage and less air pollution.

lesser mileage and more air pollution.

Question 19.19. (TCO 3) The 1970 Clean Air Act and subsequent environmental regulations have resulted in (Points : 4)

reductions in lead by about 99%.

reductions in carbon monoxide by about 10%.

surprising increases in sulfur dioxide levels by about 5%.

surprising increases in radon levels by about 20%.

reductions in carbon dioxide by about 60%.

Question 20.20. (TCO 3) Most of the public health impacts from air pollution are the result of (Points : 4)

a single pollutant in a short period.

many pollutants in a short period.

a single pollutant over a long period.

many pollutants over a long period.

a few pollutants outdoors in the spring.

Question 21.21. (TCO 3) The nuclear power industry in the United States has declined because of (Points : 4)

high construction and operating costs.

concerns about safety.

concerns about radioactive waste disposal.

concerns about security.

All of the above

Question 22.22. (TCO 8) Which of the following marine ecosystems is polluted from ocean dumping and coastal development? (Points : 4)

Mangrove swamps

Turtle habitats

Coral reefs

Wetlands

All of the above

Question 23.23. (TCO 1) The three major biotic components of ecosystem structure are (Points : 4)

producers, herbivores, and carnivores.

producers, consumers, and decomposers.

plants, animals, and climate.

consumers, bacteria, and decomposers.

temperature, moisture, and light.

Question 24.24. (TCO 5) Negative population growth or depopulation or population decline is being observed in countries that have a (Points : 4)

high birth rates and low death rates.

low birth rates and low death rates.

low birth rates and high death rates.

high death rates and high birth rates.

None of the above

Question 25.25. (TCO 7) Which of the following statements about geothermal power is false? (Points : 4)

It has moderate net energy yields for large, accessible sites.

Easily accessible geothermal sites are rare.

It can have some slight effect on adjacent ecosystems.

It releases a lot of air pollution.

It has very high efficiency.

Question 26.26. (TCO 3) The United States represents about 4.5% of the world’s population, yet we consume about (Points : 4)

5% of the world’s oil supply.

15% of the world’s oil supply.

25% of the world’s oil supply.

50% of the world’s oil supply.

60% of the world’s supply.

Question 27.27. (TCO 7) In terms of energy security, how do renewable forms of energy differ from fossil fuels? (Points : 4)

They are found only in the developed countries.

They are found only in developing countries.

They can be transported easily from developed to developing countries.

They are distributed more equitably across the earth.

They are just as geographically concentrated as fossil fuels.

Question 28.28. (TCO 4) Biodiversity, the variety of life, gene pools, habitats, and species is richest in (Points : 4)

river deltas.

tropical rain forests and coral reefs.

temperate mountains.

the north pole ecosystems.

the south pole ecosystems.

Question 29.29. (TCO 1) Assuming that these people do not use tobacco products, a person in which of the following professions would most likely have the highest exposure to benzene, a known carcinogen? (Points : 4)

A truck driver

A cashier at a grocery store

An accountant working in a large office building

A psychology professor

An elementary school teacher

Question 30.30. (TCO 7) Fossil fuels are _____ energy sources. (Points : 4)

renewable

environmentally friendly

clean

efficient

non-renewable

Question 31. 31. (TCO 7) Nuclear power has been an important source of energy for many countries in the world today. France, for example, gets close to 80% of its energy from nuclear power. However there are many concerns about this source of energy. Discuss the economic, political, and environmental concerns surrounding the use of nuclear power as an energy source. (Points : 30)

Question 32. 32. (TCOs 5 and 6) The World’s Human Population is now above 7 billion people. Over 50% of these people are in the developing countries in the world and are faced with many challenges trying to provide a stable environment for their citizens to thrive. Discuss, with clear examples, the five main challenges these countries face. There will be 6 points for each example and explanation. (Points : 30)

Question 33. 33. (TCO 4): The biodiversity of plant and animal species (flora and fauna) dictates all our social and economic activities. Discuss six key inputs into our lives from biodiversity that we cannot live without. (Points : 25)

Question 34. 34. (TCO 8) Rivers and lakes in the developing countries have become more and more polluted over the year. The Mississippi in the United States and the Rhine River in Europe are examples. Discuss three sources of pollution for each river and the impact of this pollution on the aquatic life. (Points : 25)

 

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Unit IV Assignment

Events and Causal Factors Chart Project

Read the U.S. Chemical Safety Board (CSB) investigation report of the 2007 propane explosion at the Little General Store

in Ghent, WV. The final report can be read/downloaded at the following link:

http://www.csb.gov/assets/1/19/CSBFinalReportLittleGeneral.pdf

Additional information on the incident, including a video summary, can be found at the following link:

http://www.csb.gov/little-general-store-propane-explosion/

Complete the assignment as detailed below.

Part I: From the information in the report, create a chart listing events and causal factors for the incident in Microsoft

Word, Open Office, or a similar word processing software. If you choose to use a program other than Microsoft Word, be

sure to save and submit the document as a Microsoft Word document (i.e., .doc, .docx). The objective of this project is to

provide you with an opportunity to use this important and very practical analytical tool. The chart does not have to be

infinitely detailed, but the key sequence of events should be charted as should the key conditions surrounding the events.

Keep in mind that the purpose of an events and causal factors chart is to aid in identifying which conditions could be

causal factors.

Use the charting procedures on pages 72–76 of your textbook to help you with this assignment. In addition, refer to the

example events and causal factors (ECF) chart in the Unit IV Lesson for an example of this type of chart.

Part II: On a separate page, discuss the potential causal factors that are revealed in the analysis. How do these causal

factors compare to the causal factors found in the CSB’s investigation report? Do you think more analysis is needed? This

part of the assignment should be a minimum of one page in length.

Upload Parts I and II as a single document. For Part II of the assignment, you should use academic sources to support

your thoughts. Any outside sources used, including the sources mentioned in the assignment, must be cited using APA

format and must be included on a references page.

 

Useful hints: In Microsoft Word, you can use parentheses for events (events), square brackets for conditions [conditions],

and brackets for the accident {accident}; you may also use a similar convention, such as color-coded text or the shapes

that are available within Microsoft Word. Whatever convention you use, be sure you provide some kind of key.

 

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Energy Resources

you must paraphrase in your own words from these sources; do not simply copy and paste from the source.

Natural Gas and the Marcellus Shale

Parts of this activity were modified from Sid P. Halsor, Wilkes University

Geogal: “When I was a the fitness center the other day I overheard someone say that a friend of theirs had been offered $2,000 an acre by a natural gas company”

Geoguy (while examining a hand sample of shale): “Wow, last I heard top dollar was around $1700 an acre. Can you imagine if you owned a couple hundred-acre farm in rural northeast Pennsylvania and you were offered this kind of money? And this is just to lease your land. You’d also get a percentage of the value of any gas that was produced.”

Geogal (noting the parting in the shale specimen): “Considering many farmers are just barely making it, I can see that a gas lease offer would be highly attractive. It might be the only way that farmers can survive and keep them from selling their land. After all, family farms are an essential part of Pennsylvania’s rural landscape.”

Geoguy: “But how will gas wells and the production and transmission of gas impact the land? Will a farm still look like a farm?”

Geogal: “I’ve heard that advances in technology have reduced the environmental impact of fossil fuel drilling. Still, given the vast area of land that lies above the Marcellus Shale, the landscape would surely be changed.

Geoguy (puzzled look on his face): So, how do they get the gas out of a fine-grained impermeable shale anyway??

I. Background. There is much talk about drilling the Marcellus Shale. So much so, that one would think it was a newly discovered mega-source of natural gas that could sustain our country’s needs for decades. In reality, the Marcellus has been known a gas reservoir for more than 75 years. In the late 1800s, natural gas was discovered in shale in western Pennsylvania. By the beginning of the twentieth century, just about every backyard and manufacturing plant within a mile of the Lake Erie shore in Pennsylvania had at least one gas well that kept the house or business reasonable well lighted and heated. The gas wells were shallow, generally less than 1,000 ft. and many were producing from as shallow as 25 or 30ft. The gas supply was often interrupted by variable pressure however, many of the backyard wells are still providing gas to residents of Erie County.

According to the Maryland Department of the Environment, “The Marcellus Shale has long been known as an organic-rich shale in the Appalachians, occurring at the surface and in the subsurface from New York to eastern Tennessee. Marcellus shale produces natural gas. The Marcellus Shale in Maryland is found in Washington, Allegany and Garrett Counties. The locations that have attracted the most interest for gas extraction are in Allegany and Garrett Counties. The Marcellus Shale in Western Maryland is found at depths of 3,500 to 7,000 feet.”

1. Many Pennsylvania residents have private water wells but imagine having your own natural gas well. Describe the concerns as well as the benefits of having your own natural gas well.

II. Marcellus Shale. The shale that defines the Middle Devonian Marcellus Formation is a black, organic-rich, detrital sedimentary rock. The dark color and high organic content are the result of anaerobic decay of marine organisms that accumulated with the fine-grained sediment. Organic decay occurred at depth where elevated pressure and temperature converted the carbon into natural gas. Devonian black shales are common to western Maryland bedrock and often occur with marginally organic-rich gray shales and siltstones in sequences that can be several thousand feet thick.

2. In conventional reservoirs of fluids (groundwater, crude oil, natural gas), the fluid resides in rocks that are both porous and permeable.

a) Define the geologic meaning of porous here:

b) Define the geologic meaning of permeable here:

3. Sandstones are both porous and permeable. Give an example of a sedimentary rock that is porous but not permeable.

4. What is the average grain size of a shale?

III. Shale as a reservoir rock. Black, organic-rich shale is a conventional source rock for crude oil and natural gas but an unconventional reservoir rock.

5. Look up and define the meaning of source rock here:

6. Look up and define the meaning of reservoir rock here:

Crude oil and natural gas form from a carbon-rich source at depth. Due to their lower density compared to the surrounding rock, the fluids rise up and accumulate in porous and permeable rock (a reservoir) that is capped by an impermeable layer. The impermeable cap prevents the accumulated oil and/or gas to be dispersed through the crust and lost from the reservoir. In conventional exploration, deep wells are drilled through the cap and accumulated crude oil and/or natural gas is extracted from the reservoir.

7. Why would shale, like the Marcellus, be considered an unconventional reservoir for natural gas?

IV. The push to explore and develop the Marcellus shale. Rising natural gas prices during the turn of the current century coupled with technological advances spurred interest in the Marcellus shale. Most of the exploratory and development gas wells in the Marcellus are drilled to depths ranging between 5,000 and 8,000 ft.

8. If it costs a gas drilling company about $150 per foot to drill a vertical gas well, how much does it cost to drill a 7,000 ft. vertical well?

9. An average vertical gas well might produce 45,000 cubic feet of natural gas per day. If the wellhead (top of the well before it flows into a pipeline for distribution) price for natural gas is $7.50 per thousand cubic feet, how many years will it take a gas company to recover its cost to drill a 7,000 ft well if they work 365 days a year?

V. Horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing. New drilling and stimulating techniques have made the Marcellus shale a viable target for gas extraction. Horizontal drilling allows a vertical well to turn and penetrate a layer of rock. This allows a much greater volume of gas-bearing rock to be intersected by a drill. Furthermore, hydraulic fracturing (“fracking”) is a technique that enhances the recovery of gas and/or crude oil. This technique involves pumping a water-based fluid and sand into a formation under high pressure. The pressure induces cracks in the rock and the sand helps prop open the cracks. Horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing triples the cost of drilling a well.

Read the following three short articles on drilling at http://marcelluscoalition.org/. From the website’s homepage, click on the “Information” tab at the top, then click on the “Natural Gas” tab. Read through the following tabs on the left: 1) Drilling, 2) Well Casing, and 3) Hydrologic Fracturing.

Then view a 2- minute simulation of the horizontal drilling / hydraulic fracking process at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O0kmskvJFt0

10. Based on your reading and the video, how are shallow aquifers protected from contamination by the drilling process and subsequent extraction of natural gas?

VI. Environmental issues associated with deep gas well drilling. Any process that extracts a natural resource from the earth’s crust impacts the environment (“we can’t get something for nothing”). Although much needed regulations emplaced over the last several decades have lessened the impacts, they have not eliminated them. Conventional vertical well drilling environmental impacts include surface disturbance (access and drilling operation set up, disposal of rock cuttings carried out of the well by a mixture of clay and water, i.e. “drilling mud”, emplacement of infrastructure to move gas into a pipeline network) and “down hole” preventative measures (contamination of groundwater aquifers, management of saline formation waters that can carry toxic chemical compounds).

11. According to the Hydraulic Fracturing article from the marcelluscoalition.org website, what percent of the fracturing fluids is composed of water and sand?

12. Does the Marcellus Drilling Coalition report the composition of the remaining percent of fracturing fluids on that webpage?

Go to https://www.earthworksaction.org/, click on the “Fracking 101” link on the right, and read the sections labeled “Hydraulic Fracturing – What It Is”, “Water Use”, “Sand and Proppants”, “Toxic Chemicals”, “Health Concerns”, “Surface Water and Soil Contamination”, and “Groundwater Contamination”. This website notes that until recently it has been difficult to learn of the chemicals that are used in fracking wells. Keep this website open.

The website http://www.fracfocus.org/ is a chemical disclosure registry for hydraulic fracturing chemicals. Go to this website, click the link “Find a Well” on the right, fill in the search option for State = Pennsylvania, and click “Search”. Click on any of the results and open the PDF. Each results PDF contains chemicals use in the well in question, and a list of the purpose of the chemical in the fracking fluid.

13. Compare the “purpose” results to the list of additive types in the earthworksaction.org website. Approximately how many additives from the list were included in the well you chose? Approximately how many were not used?

14. “Fracking” has been in the media lately, with concerns for environmental health around fracking wells, including groundwater contamination, fracking fluid spills, and fracking causing earthquakes. Read the article regarding Maryland’s ban on fracking at https://insideclimatenews.org/news/23032017/fracking-ban-maryland-larry-hogan . Based on what you read for this discussion, what is your opinion on hydraulic fracturing? Do you agree with the MD ban on fracking? Why or why not?

 

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