Unit 5: Energy and Climate Change

Unit 5:  Energy and Global Warming (chapters 16, 17, 20, 24, 25 & parts of 2 & 19)

How do we think about Global Warming and appropriate energy use, generation and policy?

I.  B. The Atmosphere (Composition; structure; weather and climate; atmospheric circulation and the Coriolis Effect; atmosphere–ocean interactions

IV.  G. Global Economics (Globalization; World Bank; Tragedy of the Commons; relevant laws and treaties)

V. A. Energy Concepts (Energy forms; power; units; conversions; Laws of Thermodynamics)

V. B. Energy Consumption 1. History (Industrial Revolution; exponential growth; energy crisis) 2. Present global energy use 3. Future energy needs

V. C. Fossil Fuel Resources and Use (Formation of coal, oil, and natural gas; extraction/purification methods; world reserves and global demand; synfuels; environmental advantages/ disadvantages of sources)

V. D. Nuclear Energy (Nuclear fission process; nuclear fuel; electricity production; nuclear reactor types; environmental advantages/disadvantages; safety issues; radiation and human health; radioactive wastes; nuclear fusion)

V. E. Hydroelectric Power (Dams; flood control; salmon; silting; other impacts)

V. F. Energy Conservation (Energy efficiency; CAFE standards; hybrid electric vehicles; mass transit)

V. G. Renewable Energy (Solar energy; solar electricity; hydrogen fuel cells; biomass; wind energy; small-scale hydroelectric; ocean waves and tidal energy; geothermal; environmental advantages/disadvantages)

VII. B. Global Warming (Greenhouse gases and the greenhouse effect; impacts and consequences of global warming; reducing climate change; relevant laws and treaties)