Renewable Energy
This renewable energy source directly converts radiant energy from the Sun into electrical energy using photovoltaic cells.
What is solar energy?
This fossil fuel formed from ancient plant material and has the highest carbon emissions per unit of energy produced.
What is coal?
This process changes nitrogen gas into a form plants can use.
What is nitrogen fixation?
Explain one environmental advantage AND one limitation of renewable energy.
Advantage examples — reduced greenhouse gases, sustainability, less pollution
Limitation examples — high cost, reliability issues, geographic limitations, land use
This renewable energy source is most affected by geographic location and wind consistency, making it unreliable in some regions.
What is wind energy?
This non-renewable energy source is refined into fuels such as gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel.
What is oil?
This process returns nitrogen back to the atmosphere.
What is denitrification?
Why are fossil fuels considered unsustainable resources?
They take millions of years to form and are being used faster than they can be replaced.
A disadvantage of this renewable energy source is that it can disrupt aquatic ecosystems and alter sediment flow.
What is hydropower (hydroelectric energy)?
This fossil fuel is often promoted as a “bridge fuel” because it produces fewer greenhouse gases than coal when burned.
What is natural gas?
This process turns ammonia into nitrates.
What is nitrification?
Although renewable, large-scale solar farms may negatively impact ecosystems by requiring this major environmental change.
What is habitat destruction or land use change?
This renewable energy source provides consistent energy output but is limited to areas with significant underground heat.
What is geothermal energy?
Although it produces no direct carbon dioxide emissions during electricity generation, this energy source creates long-term radioactive waste.
What is nuclear energy?
Bacteria that carry out nitrogen fixation often live in these plant structures.
What are root nodules (of legumes)?
A community installs a large hydroelectric dam. Identify one environmental trade-off and one long-term benefit.
Trade-off—habitat disruption/fish migration; Benefit—renewable, low-carbon electricity.
This renewable energy source is considered carbon-neutral because the carbon released during use was recently absorbed from the atmosphere.
What is biomass energy?
The extraction of this fossil fuel can cause habitat destruction, groundwater contamination, and increased methane emissions.
What is natural gas?
What is agriculture/fertilizer use?
This human activity adds excess nitrogen to ecosystems.
Explain how fertilizer use can impact both terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.
Adds excess nitrogen to soil, runoff enters waterways, causes eutrophication, lowers oxygen levels, harms aquatic life.