"Teaching Energy and the Environment with a Geoscience

Perspective"

Edward Stermer

Illinois Central College

PHYSC 110: Energy and the Environment

This course provides students not majoring in science with an opportunity to study world energy and environmental problems while learning basic concepts of physical science.

What is Physical Science?

Physics

Chemistry

Earth Science

The Evolution of PHYSC 110

1970’s 1980’s

1990’s 2000??????

The Students• 87% needed a physical science course to

fulfill their degree requirements. – focus of study: education, business, fire

science

• 74% took this course because they are interested in energy/environmental issues.

• 53% agreed with the following statement: “The thought of taking a science course scares me.”

• 41% are uncomfortable with math.

Energy: Its Use and the EnvironmentHinrichs and Kleinbach

1. Introduction. 2. Energy Mechanics. 3. Conservation of Energy. 4. Heat and Work. 5. Home Energy Conservation and Heat-Transfer Control. 6. Solar Energy: Characteristics and Heating. 7. Energy from Fossil Fuels. 8. Air Pollution and Energy Use. 9. Global Warming, Ozone Depletion, and Waste Heat. 10. Electricity: Circuits and Superconductors. 11. Electromagnetism and the Generation of Electricity. 12. Electricity from Solar, Wind, and Hydro. 13. The Building Blocks of Matter: The Atom and Its Nucleus. 14. Nuclear Power: Fission. 15. Effects and Uses of Radiation. 16. Future Energy Alternatives: Fusion. 17. Biomass: From Plants to Garbage. 18. Tapping the Earth's Heat: Geothermal Energy. 19. A National and Personal Commitment.

Energy: Its Use and the EnvironmentHinrichs and Kleinbach

1. Introduction. 2. Energy Mechanics. 3. Conservation of Energy. 4. Heat and Work. 5. Home Energy Conservation and Heat-Transfer Control. 6. Solar Energy: Characteristics and Heating. 7. Energy from Fossil Fuels. 8. Air Pollution and Energy Use. 9. Global Warming, Ozone Depletion, and Waste Heat. 10. Electricity: Circuits and Superconductors. 11. Electromagnetism and the Generation of Electricity. 12. Electricity from Solar, Wind, and Hydro. 13. The Building Blocks of Matter: The Atom and Its Nucleus. 14. Nuclear Power: Fission. 15. Effects and Uses of Radiation. 16. Future Energy Alternatives: Fusion. 17. Biomass: From Plants to Garbage. 18. Tapping the Earth's Heat: Geothermal Energy. 19. A National and Personal Commitment.

Why use a Geoscince Perspective?

• Overlooked aspect of Physical Science

• Fundamental to the understanding current energy and environmental issues

• Student Interest and Engagement

Geology Is Cool!!!

A Geoscience Perspective

1. The Earth behaves as a system

The Earth System

Atmosphere

Biosphere Hydrosphere

Geosphere

The Carbon Cycle

Dissolution

PlantsPhytoplankton

“Biomass”

Fossil Fuels

DecompositionRespiration

Combustion

Carbon In Atmosphere

Carbon In Rocks

CarbonIn Ocean Water

Weathering

Volcanic Eruptions

Evaporation

Lithification

Soil Marine Sediment“Organic Matter”

Photosynthesis

Boxes are carbon sinks Arrows are carbon fluxes

Consumption

A Geoscience Perspective

1. The Earth behaves as a system

2. A geological sense of time and change

Precambrian

Pha

nero

zioc

Paleozoic

Mesozoic

Cenozoic

Cambrian

Ordovician

Silurian

Devonian

Mississippian

Pennsylvanian

Permian

Triassic

Jurassic

Cretaceous

Tertiary

Quaternary

CambrianExplosion

PermianExtinction

K-TExtinction

AlgaeBacteria

Shells

Fish

PlantsAmphibians

Reptiles

MammalsBirds

Present

4,600

540

248

65

PlantsPhytoplankton

Fossil Fuels

Carbon Cycle

Carbon In Atmosphere

Carbon In Rocks

CarbonIn Ocean Water

Soil Marine Sediment

Biological SubcycleShort Term

Days - Years

Ocean SubcycleShort Term

10’s - 100’s of Years

Fossil Fuel SubcycleLong Term

Millions of Years

Fossil Fuel SubcycleShort Term

10’s of Years

Rock SubcycleLong Term

Millions of Years

A Geoscience Perspective

1. The Earth behaves as a system

2. A geological sense of time and change

3. The geologic past provides a window to the future.

“History may not repeat itself, but it sure does rhyme.” - Mark Twain

Precambrian

Pha

nero

zioc

Paleozoic

Mesozoic

Cenozoic

Cambrian

Ordovician

Silurian

Devonian

Mississippian

Pennsylvanian

Permian

Triassic

Jurassic

Cretaceous

Tertiary

Quaternary

CambrianExplosion

PermianExtinction

K-TExtinction

AlgaeBacteria

Shells

Fish

PlantsAmphibians

Reptiles

MammalsBirds

Present

4,600

540

248

65

Mega mammalExtinction

Precambrian

Pha

nero

zioc

Paleozoic

Mesozoic

Cenozoic

Cambrian

Ordovician

Silurian

Devonian

Mississippian

Pennsylvanian

Permian

Triassic

Jurassic

Cretaceous

Tertiary

Quaternary

AlgaeBacteria

Shells

Fish

PlantsAmphibians

Reptiles

MammalsBirds

Present

4,600

540

ICE AGE

ICE AGE

ICE AGE

ICE AGE

Climate change Computer Models

A Geoscience Perspective

1. The Earth behaves as a system

2. A geological sense of time and change

3. The geologic past provides a window to the future

4. Fossil Fuels are rare in the geologic time.

Precambrian

Pha

nero

zioc

Paleozoic

Mesozoic

Cenozoic

Cambrian

Ordovician

Silurian

Devonian

Mississippian

Pennsylvanian

Permian

Triassic

Jurassic

Cretaceous

Tertiary

Quaternary

AlgaeBacteria

Shells

Fish

PlantsAmphibians

Reptiles

MammalsBirds

Present

4,600

540

Coal

Coal

Pet

PetPet

PetPet

Pet

Formation of Petroleumand the Earth System

Atmosphere

Biosphere Hydrosphere

Geosphere

A Geoscience Perspective

1. The Earth behaves as a system

2. A geological sense of time and change

3. The geologic past provides a window to the future

4. Fossil Fuels are rare in the geologic time.

• Fossil fuel resources are finite and are limited by geology

• The amount of energy resources that humans can recover is limited by technology which is limited by natural laws

A Geosciences Perspective

1. The Earth behaves as a system

2. A geological sense of time and change

3. The geologic past provides a window to the future.

4. Fossil Fuels are rare in the geologic time.

5. Humans are influencing the earth system at an ever increasing rate.

Welcome to the Anthropocene

Precambrian

Pha

nero

zioc

Paleozoic

Mesozoic

Cenozoic

Cambrian

Ordovician

Silurian

Devonian

Mississippian

Pennsylvanian

Permian

Triassic

Jurassic

Cretaceous

Tertiary

Quaternary

CambrianExplosion

PermianExtinction

K-TExtinction

AlgaeBacteria

Shells

Fish

PlantsAmphibians

Reptiles

MammalsBirds

Present

4,600

540

248

65

ANTHROPOCENE

The Use of Fossil Fuelsand the Earth System

Atmosphere

Biosphere Hydrosphere

Geosphere

A Geosciences Perspective1. The Earth behaves as a system2. A geological sense of time and place3. The geologic past provides a window to

the future.4. Fossil fuel resources are finite and are

limited by geology (not technology).5. Humans are influencing the earth system

at an ever increasing rate.6. The Evidence is in the Field

“GET OUTSIDE”

A Sense of Adventure!!!

Peoria Geology

An Class Framework The Coming Storm

Fossil Fuel based Society

How did We Get to This Spot

• A Sense of Time

• Energy and Society

• Science and Technology

How Does the Ship Work?

• Energy and Power• Conservation of Energy• Atomic Theory• Thermodynamics• Solar Energy• Electricity Energy• Generation of Electricity• The Earth System

What Fuels the Ship?

• The Carbon Cycle

• Fossil Fuels

• Illinois Coal*

• Petroleum

• Gasoline and Refining

• Nuclear Power

The Waters are Becoming Choppy and a Storm is Brewing on the Horizon

• The Atmosphere

• Air Pollution

• Climate

• Illinois Ice Ages*

• Climate Change

• Peak Oilt

T

t

P

How do We Change Course?

• Solar Heating Systems

• Geothermal Heat

• Electricity from Solar

• Wind Electricity*

• Biofuels

• Carbon Sequestration

and FutureGen