Dams
True or False? Impoundment dams are the most common method of hydroelectricity.
True
Which country uses the most hydroelectricity?
China
True or False? Run-of-the-river systems use reservoirs.
False
Tidal energy has _____ potential to become a major energy source.
Low
What are two major end uses of hydroelectricity?
power for trains and subways, electricity for homes, businesses, and industries, backup for electricity outages or disruptions, flood control, irrigation support, clean drinking water, tourism, water sports, and recreation
What is the largest dam in the world?
The Three Gorges Dam
What is one US state that uses the most hydroelectricity?
Idaho, Washington, New York, Alabama, and Oregon
What is one environmental benefit of run-of-the-river systems?
Less chance of upstream flooding, maintains seasonal changes in flow, and utilizes the natural flow of the river.
True or False? The difference in height of low and high tides is a limitation.
True
What are three environmental impacts of hydroelectricity?
Fossil fuel combustion during construction, increased evaporation, methane release, reduced migration, sedimentation changes, warmer water with less oxygen, decreased water level, flooding of land, parasites, and interrupted life cycles.
What is the largest dam in the USA, and where is it located?
The Grand Coulee Dam in Washington
False
What is a disadvantage of using run-of-the-river systems?
They can be small, have intermittent electricity generation, and may not generate much during hot, dry periods.
Tidal power plants disrupt ______ as well as _____ in the region
Ecosystems,Tourism
What was a negative consequence of the Three Gorges Dam?
Flooded many places, displaced many people, destruction of artifacts, archeological sites, and other natural features, and increased earthquakes and landslides.
What term describes the accumulation of sediments, usually silt, at the bottom of a reservoir, often reducing the lifespan of a dam?
Siltation
What two things have a direct impact on the amount of electricity generated through hydroelectricity?
Flow rate and change in elevation
What is the name for a low dam used in run-of-the-river systems to divert water to turbines?
Weirs
Where are tidal power plants usually found?
Estuaries, rivers, and bays
How many people were displaced by the construction and reservoir of the Three Gorges Dam
1.3 million people
By how time does the Three Gorges Dam slow down Earths Rotation?
0.06 Microseconds