Lecture 3 atmosp climorganis
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The Indian Point Nuclear Power Plant uses over 2 billion gallons of water per day from the Hudson River to cool its reactors. The water is returned to the river at a temperature 20-30 degrees hotter, killing fish and other aquatic organisms. It provides up to 30% of New York City's electricity but its license expires in 2013. Over $100 billion will be spent to clean up radioactive waste at the Hanford Site in Washington, where plutonium was produced for nuclear weapons from 1943 to 1987 and over 50 million gallons of waste remains. Earth's atmosphere helps regulate temperatures and the ozone layer protects the surface from harmful radiation.
Lecture 3 atmosp climorganis
- 1. ATMOSPHERE, CLIMATE, AND ORGANISMS Dr. B. H. Lower, Ph.D.
- 2. Indian Point Nuclear Power Plant – New York, NY • Indian Point Nuclear Power Plant uses 2.5 billion gallons of H2O per day (this is >2-times the water used by New York City) to produce steam & cool reactors. • Supplies up to 30% of electricity to New York City • Once used the water is put back into Hudson River is 20-30 degrees hotter, which kills fish and other aquatic organisms • Produces zero greenhouse gases • Its federal license for the plant expires in 2013 • New York State has determined that plant violates Clean Water Act
- 3. Bioremediation of Nuclear Waste – OSU Research: http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/science/stories/2009/04/05/ sci_toxbacteria.ART_ART_04-05-09_G3_QKDEBCE.html?sid=101 • Hanford Site, WA – plutonium production for most of USA’s 60,000 nuclear weapons • $2 billion per year spent at Hanford Site to clean up site. Total before is is “done” is $100,000,000,000. >50 million gallons of highly-radioactive waste remains on site Originally part of Manhattan Project, active from 1943 – 1987
- 4. Evolution of Life on Earth • Earth is 4.5 billion years old • Earliest life forms are 3.5 billion years old • 20% oxygen atmosphere about 1.2 billion years ago
- 5. Becoming Human Chapter 1 of 5 – The First Humans on Earth http://video.pbs.org/video/1319997127/ Neanderthals, Humans Interbred? http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/ 2010/05/100506-science-neanderthals-humans- mated-interbred-dna-gene/
- 6. Earth’s Atmosphere o Thin layer of gases that envelops Earth
- 7. Layers of Earth’s Atmosphere Gases in extremely thin air absorb X- rays and short-wave radiation raising temperature to 1000oC or higher Temperatures as low as -140oC Meteors burn up from friction with air molecules Ozone layer is thickest at 25-30 km 99% of atmosphere (by weight) is below 30 km
- 9. Video, ozone hole over Antarctica: http://video.nationalgeographic.com/video/player/news/environment-news/ antarctica-ozone-vin.html
- 11. Coriolis Effect o Earth’s rotation from west to east causes wind and water to swerve to right in Northern Hemisphere and to the left in Southern Hemisphere • Prevailing winds 1. polar easterlies 2. westerlies http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_36MiCUS1ro 3. trade winds
- 12. Atmospheric Circulation and Heat Exchange
- 14. Surface Ocean Currents Winds largely cause basic ocean currents clockwise – northern hemisphere partially from Coriolis effect counterclockwise – southern hemisphere
- 15. Ocean Conveyer Belt north pole – cold salty water sinks equator – water wells up becoming warmer and fresher south pole – cold salty water sinks
- 17. Normal El Niño Surface water warms and prevents upwelling of nutrient-rich bottom water = bad for fishing industry.
- 18. Orographic precipitation and Rain shadow effect Himalayas and the Tibetan Plateau
- 19. Global distribution of photosynthesis including oceanic phytoplankton and terrestrial vegetation
- 20. Light chlorophyll chlorophyll light absorb light absorb chlorophyll
- 21. PBS Heat – Watching the Earth Change: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/heat/view/1.html
- 22. Heat and Air Temperature 1. Conduction – transfer of heat between objects that are in direct physical contact 2. Electromagnetic radiation – heat transfer Q10 = 2 between substances without direct contact
- 23. Precipitation and humidity • Precipitation – water • Dew point – that reaches surface of temperature where Earth condensation occurs • Movement of water: • Humidity – amount of 1. Condensation water gas in given 2. Evaporation volume of air 3. Transpiration • Condensation nuclei – 4. Sublimation suspended air particles on which condensation of water occurs