Renewable and Renewable and Nonrenewable Nonrenewable

ResourcesResources

Chapter 2Chapter 2

Theme OutlineTheme OutlineLesson 2.3Lesson 2.3

Distribution and Management of Natural Distribution and Management of Natural ResourcesResources

Pennsylvania CoalPennsylvania Coal Coal and the EnvironmentCoal and the Environment Pennsylvania Power PlantsPennsylvania Power Plants ConservationConservation

PA Academic Standards for PA Academic Standards for Environment & EcologyEnvironment & Ecology

Standard 4.2.10.CStandard 4.2.10.C• Analyze how man-made systems have impacted the Analyze how man-made systems have impacted the

management and distribution of natural resources.management and distribution of natural resources.• Explain the complete cycle of a natural resource, from Explain the complete cycle of a natural resource, from

extraction to disposal, detailing its uses and effects on extraction to disposal, detailing its uses and effects on the environment.the environment.

• Analyze energy uses and energy conservation in Analyze energy uses and energy conservation in different regions.different regions.

• Examine conservation practices in different countries.Examine conservation practices in different countries.• Analyze the costs and benefits of different man-made Analyze the costs and benefits of different man-made

systems and how they use renewable and systems and how they use renewable and nonrenewable natural resources.nonrenewable natural resources.

• Analyze the impact of information systems on Analyze the impact of information systems on management and distribution of natural resources.management and distribution of natural resources.

Learning ObjectivesLearning Objectives

Students will analyze the costs and benefits of different Students will analyze the costs and benefits of different types of power plants and how they use renewable and types of power plants and how they use renewable and nonrenewable natural resources.nonrenewable natural resources.

Students will use Pennsylvania coal to explain the complete Students will use Pennsylvania coal to explain the complete cycle of a natural resource, how it is used, and its effects on cycle of a natural resource, how it is used, and its effects on the environment.the environment.

Students will learn about some of the global organizations Students will learn about some of the global organizations and agencies that work to conserve global resources.and agencies that work to conserve global resources.

Students will analyze the impact of information systems on Students will analyze the impact of information systems on management and distribution of natural resources.management and distribution of natural resources.

Distribution and Management Distribution and Management of Natural Resourcesof Natural Resources

• Pennsylvania CoalPennsylvania Coal• Mining Pennsylvania’s CoalsMining Pennsylvania’s Coals

• Coal and the EnvironmentCoal and the Environment• Pennsylvania Power PlantsPennsylvania Power Plants

• Coal-burning Power PlantsCoal-burning Power Plants• Nuclear Power PlantsNuclear Power Plants• Hydroelectric Power PlantsHydroelectric Power Plants

• ConservationConservation

Pennsylvania CoalPennsylvania Coal

Common mining techniquesCommon mining techniques Room and pillar methodRoom and pillar method

Long wall methodLong wall method Surface mining methodSurface mining method

Room and pillar methodRoom and pillar method DefinitionDefinition: : mining method in which rooms are cut mining method in which rooms are cut

into a coal bed, leaving a series of pillars, or into a coal bed, leaving a series of pillars, or columns of coal, to help support the mine roof and columns of coal, to help support the mine roof and control the flow of aircontrol the flow of air

• Rooms are typically 20-30 feet wideRooms are typically 20-30 feet wide• Pillars are generally about 100 feet wide.Pillars are generally about 100 feet wide.• Workers typically remove as much coal as possible Workers typically remove as much coal as possible

until the roof falls in.until the roof falls in.• Mines are typically abandoned when the retreat Mines are typically abandoned when the retreat

process is complete.process is complete.

Room Room and pillar and pillar methodmethod

Longwall MethodLongwall Method

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

• Cutting heads move along coal seams, breaking off Cutting heads move along coal seams, breaking off layers of coal and transporting them out of the layers of coal and transporting them out of the mine using conveyor systems.mine using conveyor systems.

• Special roof supports are moved as the roof is cut, Special roof supports are moved as the roof is cut, to ensure the stability of the mine.to ensure the stability of the mine.

Surface MiningSurface Mining• Draglines, bulldozers, and front-end loaders remove Draglines, bulldozers, and front-end loaders remove

overburden from the coal seam.overburden from the coal seam.• Explosions are sometimes used to loosen coal formations.Explosions are sometimes used to loosen coal formations.• Surface mining occurs on level surfaces, follows coal seams Surface mining occurs on level surfaces, follows coal seams

along hillside, and uses open pits where thick coal seams along hillside, and uses open pits where thick coal seams

are foundare found..

Acid Mine Drainage (AMD)Acid Mine Drainage (AMD)

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

• PyritePyrite• ““Fool’s gold”Fool’s gold”• Found in large amounts in Found in large amounts in

bituminous coalbituminous coal• When exposed to air and When exposed to air and

water, sulfuric acid and iron water, sulfuric acid and iron hydroxide formhydroxide form

Why is AMD a concern?Why is AMD a concern?

• Enters freshwater systems Enters freshwater systems and air supplies from surface and air supplies from surface sources and underground sources and underground sourcessources

• Lowers pH of freshwater Lowers pH of freshwater systemssystems

• Covers river and stream Covers river and stream channels with iron hydroxide, channels with iron hydroxide, a yellowish-orange compounda yellowish-orange compound

So what do we do with mined areas?So what do we do with mined areas?• Mining of any resource, including coal, can greatly alter a Mining of any resource, including coal, can greatly alter a

natural landscapenatural landscape• Historically active mines (prior to 1970s) operated until all of Historically active mines (prior to 1970s) operated until all of

the economically harvestable coal was removed, then mines the economically harvestable coal was removed, then mines were abandoned.were abandoned.

• Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act (Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act (1977)1977)

ReclamationReclamation • DefinitionDefinition: restoration of mined land to its original : restoration of mined land to its original

condition by reconstructing the land’s topography and condition by reconstructing the land’s topography and replanting vegetationreplanting vegetation

Pennsylvania Power Pennsylvania Power PlantsPlants

Major types of Power PlantsMajor types of Power Plants• Coal-burning power plantsCoal-burning power plants

• Mainly steam-turbine plants that burn bituminous coal to Mainly steam-turbine plants that burn bituminous coal to generate heat which turns water into steam which spins a series generate heat which turns water into steam which spins a series of turbines. PA has 16.of turbines. PA has 16.

• Nuclear power plantsNuclear power plants• Mainly steam-turbine plants that use fission to break specific Mainly steam-turbine plants that use fission to break specific

types of uranium generate heat which turns water into steam types of uranium generate heat which turns water into steam which spins a series of turbines. PA currently has 5 in which spins a series of turbines. PA currently has 5 in operation.operation.

• Hydroelectric power plantsHydroelectric power plants• Mainly turbine plants that use the energy from moving water Mainly turbine plants that use the energy from moving water

to generate electricity by spinning a series of turbinesto generate electricity by spinning a series of turbines

ConservationConservation• Definition:Definition: careful use of a resource so that its supply will careful use of a resource so that its supply will

last longerlast longer

• Best addressed by a series of questions …Best addressed by a series of questions …• How can humans limit their dependence on How can humans limit their dependence on

nonrenewable energy sources?nonrenewable energy sources?• How can humans begin to utilize alternative energy How can humans begin to utilize alternative energy

strategies as primary energy sources?strategies as primary energy sources?• How can humans economically promote the use of How can humans economically promote the use of

renewable energy systems?renewable energy systems?• How can humans increase the efficiency of existing How can humans increase the efficiency of existing

materials, and further improve the efficiency of future materials, and further improve the efficiency of future materials?materials?