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28 February 200520th class meeting

(Miller Chapters 10, 6, SDCP)

Environmental BiologyECOL 206

University of Arizonaspring 2005

Kevin Bonine, Ph.D.Alona Bachi, Matthew Herron, Graduate TAs

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- SE Chapters 10, 6, 7- Homework for today from The Lorax- Batisse 1997 for Friday

- 07 March Group Project- 11 March Exam2- 11 March Lab Binder due- 11 March current events

-Exam key posted (Tuesday 22 Feb)(please, one week from posting to address grading issues)

-Lab (in ECE 206)

Environmental Biology 2062

206 Course Web Link:http://eebweb.arizona.edu/courses/Ecol206/206_Page2005.html

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Saturday, March 05, 2005 -10 am - 4 pm

Researchers from the University of Arizona and community volunteers will unite on Saturday, March 5 to fight a foreign invader. The goal is to save Tumamoc Hill from buffelgrass.

Buffelgrass - brought here from Africa for cattle forage - has the potential to be the most destructive plant pest known in the Sonoran Desert, says Desert Lab researcher Travis Bean. Tumamoc Hill is overrun with buffelgrass, which not only out-competes native plants for water and soil nutrients, but increases the risk of brush fires to dangerous levels through increased fuel loads. Infestations create a grass-fire cycle that transforms picturesque saguaro landscapes into buffelgrass monocultures.

Tumamoc Hill on Tucson's west side is home to the historic Desert Laboratory and an 860-acre nature preserve. For more than 100 years the Desert Lab has been dedicated to studying plants, animals and the environment of North American deserts.

The mission of the Desert Lab has become even more important in recent years. Expanding populations in the Southwest have increased the stress on natural environments that surround its growing cities.

On eradication day, researchers will show how to recognize buffelgrass, and demonstrate approved techniques to remove it, including rock picks and herbicides.

The event is Saturday, March 5, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Parking is available at nearby St. Mary's Hospital. Winter in Tucson still means plenty of sunshine most days, so wear protective clothing, including sunscreen, a hat and gloves, and sturdy shoes to navigate the rugged hillside.

For more information, or to volunteer with the eradication project, call Travis Bean at the Desert Lab at 629-9455, or e-mail.

Buffelgrass Removal at Tumamoc Hill, 05 March 20053

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auto industry

inner city transportation

mass transit

http://www.thethirdrail.net/9905/agt1.htm

Fossil Fuels and Cars

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“The entire world economy is built on a bet of how long the House of Saud can continue”

-Philip E. Clapp(National Environmental Trust)(Quoted p. 206 in Miller 2005 text)

Between 1985 and 2004 average fuel efficiency of new cars sold in U.S. leveled off or declined slightly (Miller 2005 p.222)

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Energy (Ch 6) -Solar 99% (not in market place)-Commercial 1% (82% nonrenewable)

(incl. indirect solar: wind, water, biomass)

Miller, 2003Miller 2005, 10-2

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NonRenewableEnergy

U.S. 4.6% population, 24% commercial energyIndia 16% population, 3% commercial energy

Miller, 2003 (2005: 10-1)

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Miller, 2003 (2005: 10-3)

1. Availability2. Net Energy3. Costs to Develop4. Subsidies, Tax Breaks5. National Security6. Terrorism7. Environment, Climate,

Human Health

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U.S. Energy Sources(3% World’s Oil Reserves)

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Net Energy 1. Find2. Extract3. Transfer4. Process5. Transport6. Burn

- 2nd Law of Thermodynamics

Energy Efficiency

Miller, 2003(2005: 10-21)

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Miller, 2003(2005: 10-25)

Energy Efficiency

- Hybrid Cars

Fuel Efficient and Battery

80-300 miles/gallon

- Hydrogen Cells (cars etc.+)

H2 + O2 = energy + H20

- Cogeneration (heat and power)

- Electric Motors

- Lightbulbs

Incandescent vs. Fluorescent

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Miller, 2003

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- 2nd Law of Thermodynamics

Miller, 2003(2005: 10-19)

U.S. Flow of Energy

(Inefficiency)

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Energy Sources

Solar – passive or activeHydrogen - (green algae??)

need to decompose water

Hydropower WindBiomassGeothermal

Fossil FuelsOilNatural GasCoal

Nuclear

Miller, 2003(2005: 10-25)

CO2

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Miller, 2003(2005: 10-7)

Miller, 2003(2005: 10-5)

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Fossil FuelsOilNatural GasCoal

coal

Natural gas45

Miller, 2003(2005: 10-9)

Miller, 2003(2005: 10-11)

Fossil FuelsOilNatural GasCoal

Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR)- 1/5 land in wildlife refuge system- 19% chance of finding enough oil

to supply U.S. for 24 months- Persian Gulf oil cheaper

- fuel efficiency better route- lots oil spills likely- pipelines vulnerable- fragile tundra- impact acreage

Miller, 2003(2005: 10-6)

oil

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Fossil Fuel Dependence

Precautionary Principle

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Nuclear Energy

Accidents catastrophicsabotage?

Chernobyl (1986), Three-Mile Island (1979)

What to do withRadioactive Waste?- 10k-240k years- bury it (ground) - bury it (ice) - bury it (ocean)- shoot into space- descending subduction zones

Yucca Mountain, NV- leaks, faults, volcanoes- 6 shipments/day for 30 years

Nuclear Weapons

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Miller, 2003(2005: 10-17)

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Yucca Mountain Potential Leaks…51

Yucca Mountain http://www.mapscience.org/

• Number of people in Arizona that live within 1 mile of a nuclear transportation route - 448,024

• Schools within 1 mile of the proposed route in Arizona - 212

• Hospitals within 1 mile - 11

• Fatal tractor-trailer wrecks in Arizona 1994 to 2000 - 513

• Train wrecks in Arizona 1990-2001 - 762

• Nuclear waste shipments in Arizona over the life of the project:

If by truck: 102,018If by train: 13,078

• Nuclear waste in Arizona now - 1,045 metric tons. Nuclear waste in Arizona if Yucca Mt. Project proceeds to completion - 1,899 metric tons.

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The Department of Energy’s worst-case scenario predicts 48 radiation-induced deaths in a terrorist incident and 5 radiation-related deaths in a serious truck accident. Other experts estimate thousands of deaths over time if the release is in an urban area. First responders, local police, fire and hazardous materials response teams could easily be exposed to lethal does of radiation. Billions of dollars and many years could be required to clean up the area. Transportation routes, including major interstates and train lines could be closed for months, or even years.

“The important thing now is to recognize that there is no immediate crisis, that there is time to do this and to do a good and responsible job in terms of safety and security and to do it at a much lower cost to ratepayers.” -- Former Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Commissioner Victor Gilinsky, testimony before the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee hearing, May 22, 2002.

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What to Do?? -Free Market, Subsidy, Tax-Efficiency-Renewable-Include all costs in analyses

Miller, 2003(2005: 10-40)

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