Weather & Climate P2

1) Begin class in the dark today. If possible,close blinds and turn off lights. Ask studentsif they know where their electricity comesfrom. Is it from a coal-fired power plant?Hydro-electric? Wind energy? Is the plantnearby? Have this discussion in the dark.2) Turn on the lights and point out the easewith which the room was supplied electricity.Where does the power originate? Explain thatstudents will investigate this today in class.
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Weather & Climate P2 m of cli ate ch es a s ng cau geimpacts associated with building a hydro- change than burning fossil fuels because ofelectric plant, including hydrologic changes, its shorter carbon cycle. Fossil fuels are madewater quality degradation, and blockage of from plants and animals that have been deadfish migration routes. and stored underground for many millennia, thus the name “fossil” fuel. Without humanSolar energy comes from the sun. Using intervention, fossil fuels would continue tosolar panels or other technologies, the sun’s store or sequester carbon, preventing it fromrays are converted to electrical energy. entering our atmosphere. Plants grown forAtmospheric conditions and the solar panels’ biomass and biofuels are active componentspositions on the earth relative to the sun can of the carbon cycle, taking up carbon whileaffect the amounts of solar power collected. growing and releasing carbon when burnedWind energy generates electricity from the or decomposed. Unlike fossil fuels, biofuelswind. Wind energy reduces greenhouse gas can be re-grown quickly, providing foodemissions when it offsets, or takes the place (corn, sugar) and timber and taking up CO2of, a fossil fuel power plant. Wind energy’snegative environmental impacts can include (a major greenhouse gas). 2 Geothermal energy is heat energy collectedimpacts on migrating birds or bats and from beneath the earth’s surface or energyaesthetic impacts on neighbors. absorbed in the earth’s atmosphere or oceans.Biofuels/Biomass These are solids, liquids, or This naturally occurring energy is collectedgases from recently dead biological materials, and used to make electrical energy. Emissionsmost commonly plants. Biomass refers more from the collection process are small andspecifically to the solids from recently dead require no use of fossil fuel. Installing geo-biological materials. Firewood is an example thermal energy units can be rather expensiveof biomass used for energy. Fuel from sugar and homeowners may have problems withcrops (sugar cane) or starch crops (corn) is repairs due to the systems’ uniqueness.called ethanol; fuel from non-edible plant Energy conservation is the easiest way to limitsources like wood or grass is chemically the amount of greenhouse gases going intoidentical but called cellulosic ethanol. Ethanol the atmosphere.is used as a supplement to gasoline in cars.Vegetable oil can be used as a fuel, butusually just in cars with older diesel enginesunder specific climate conditions.While burning biomassand biofuels doesproduce someair pollution, ithas less impacton climateWisconsin Department of Natural Resources • CLIMATE CHANGE: A Wisconsin Activity Guide, Grades 7-12 31 activity POWER TO THE PEOPLE Part A – Power in Wisconsin Discussion Questions Students will investigate sources of power in 1) Why do you think power plants are Wisconsin and determine their efficiency. located in certain areas of Wisconsin? Availability of resources? Socio-economic situation? Population density? Procedure Transportation patterns? 1) Begin class in the dark today. If possible, 2) How efficient are these sources of energy? close blinds and turn off lights. Ask students if they know where their electricity comes ...