PDS AP Environmental Science 8th Period 2010-11

Hey guys,

I still do not understand the difference between mitigation and adaptation. Could someone maybe give me examples to help clarify the difference because the definitions from the book confuse me.

Can someone explain to me the difference between net energy and EROI? I do not understand the difference. I know that they both deal with the amount of energy invested and returned but I do not understand the difference.

-Solar energy has become a very popular way to provide energy or electricity for many different buildings and homes. There are two main ways to make use of solar energy:

1. Passive Solar Energy – Uses the light and heat from the sun without using and collectors or solar panels. This technology mainly deals with the building’s design and structure. (Ex : Having windows to allow sun to pass through and warm area up or having black, thick walls to capture the heat and help hold it)

2. Active Solar Energy – This technology uses things such as solar panels and grids to capture the sun’s energy. (Ex : Many houses have solar panels on their roofs to absorb the solar radiation for heat or heating water)

-Although many people want solar energy used for their homes, a lot of people do not want to go through the trouble to put the panels on their homes for their own reasons. That is when people decided that something else had to be done; they came to the conclusion of “midsized solar farms”. This is becoming so popular because it is a clean way to gain access to renewable energy.  The following is a picture of a midsized solar farm in San Francisco:

http://www.npr.org/2011/03/16/134341220/midsize-solar-installations-grow-at-light-speed

They are also doing this in places like Sacramento where people only have to pay 11 dollars a month for electricity provided from solar panels that are 30 miles away from downtown. Click here to read more on these midsized solar farms.

-This video talks about Spain’s solar energy problems and solutions that are currently taking place. Here there are hundreds of mirrors focusing on a tower of water to create great amounts of steam that produces electricity to thousands of homes. One of the problems is that when it is not sunny, there is no electricity. However, they have found a solution to this problem. They stock up on the energy for when it is dark or cloudy and the extra heat they collect is stored for the times when there is so sun out to create the steam needed for electricity. Both of these examples of solar technology usage prove that solar power has become increasingly accessible to people around the world today. Use of solar technology will continue to increase as technologies improve, prices fall, and government support increases.

Hey guys. I am not really sure the difference between gm organisms and artificial breeding. I know that they are both used to better genetically engineer species to create the desirable traits, but I do not understand the difference if someone could please help!

I know that the threshold dose has to do with the effects, but I just do not feel like I completely understand the meaning of this term. Can someone please explain if it is when the effects first start to take place or is it when it is enough to be very harmful? Not really sure