...In today’s globalized society the dilemma of invasive species is an ever growing headache as certain species are both knowingly and unknowingly transported to parts of the world in which they do not belong. This adversely effects the ecosystems they are introduced to causing natural, fiscal and social problems. The invasion of the species Iguana Iguana in particular has many detrimental effects and harms not only the biota of the system it invades but also the stability of that system; surveillance and swift removal of the species Iguana Iguana is imperative to the stability and health of invaded ecosystems. Green iguanas (Iguana Iguana) is a species originating from the “Mexico south through Central America to Ecuador on the Pacific side and...
Words: 455 - Pages: 2
...Water Control: Flooding Issues in Houston, Texas The purpose of this paper is to analyze and discuss the flooding problems in Houston, Texas. As a part of this analysis, this paper will assess the economical, political, and legal implications of Houston’s flooding. It will also explain the relationship that psychology has to environmental preservation, and will create a solution to the issue at hand. In the process of proposing a conceivable solution, this paper will discuss the economic, political, and legal barriers of the solution, how they can be overcome, and why this solution will be successful. Flooding Issues in Houston, Texas Houston, Texas is home to over two million individuals, and is the fourth largest city within the United States of America. It is located in the Southeastern part of the state of Texas, and sits roughly 50 feet above sea level. Houston is known for its famous nickname of the Bayou City, as it is home to over 2,500 miles of manmade rivers. These manmade rivers (bayous) are the city of Houston’s way of containing and channeling rain water to the ocean. This alternative drainage system was a much needed installation because of the city’s position, as compared to the sea level (Bayou Preservation, 2012). Currently, Houston suffers from severe flooding issues (i.e. flash floods, urban floods, river and bayou floods), and depending upon the area of town, the probability of high and slow moving floodwaters increase. As the city’s population...
Words: 2906 - Pages: 12
...Water Control: Flooding Issues in Houston, Texas The purpose of this paper is to analyze and discuss the flooding problems in Houston, Texas. As a part of this analysis, this paper will assess the economical, political, and legal implications of Houston’s flooding. It will also explain the relationship that psychology has to environmental preservation, and will create a solution to the issue at hand. In the process of proposing a conceivable solution, this paper will discuss the economic, political, and legal barriers of the solution, how they can be overcome, and why this solution will be successful. Flooding Issues in Houston, Texas Houston, Texas is home to over two million individuals, and is the fourth largest city within the United States of America. It is located in the Southeastern part of the state of Texas, and sits roughly 50 feet above sea level. Houston is known for its famous nickname of the Bayou City, as it is home to over 2,500 miles of manmade rivers. These manmade rivers (bayous) are the city of Houston’s way of containing and channeling rain water to the ocean. This alternative drainage system was a much needed installation because of the city’s position, as compared to the sea level (Bayou Preservation, 2012). Currently, Houston suffers from severe flooding issues (i.e. flash floods, urban floods, river and bayou floods), and depending upon the area of town, the probability of high and slow moving floodwaters increase. As the city’s population...
Words: 2906 - Pages: 12
...adversities included the Canadian South, South Eastern region of Montana, South Western parts of North Dakota, and Texas, North Eastern regions of Wyoming, Colorado and New Mexico, and major regions of South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, and Oklahoma. The causative factors for the development of the Dust Bowl were attributed to two main factors; drought and famine condition in existing in Central America and poor farming methods on the vast dry lands from the Canadian prairies in the South to the US, acreage of over 400,000 km2 (Langston-George, 2015). Based on Dust Bowl’s historical naure, it is imperative to understand the causes, characteristics, impact and draw future lessons to mitigate such occurrences in the human and physical environment. Characteristics of the Dust Bowl The Dust bowl region lies on the west side of the 100th meridian. The elevation of the plains was estimated to be 760m on the east side and 1800m to the west. The erosion and drought affected a geographical coverage of about 100,000,000acres. The climatic condition of the area is hot and dry as it receives approximately 510mm of rainfall in an annual span. These make it vulnerable to extensive drought periods that alternate with an equivalent length of unusual wetness. In this case, the region is prone to survivor drought and floods. The wet seasons are good for agriculture but crops tend to fail in the dry seasons. The region experiences...
Words: 3039 - Pages: 13
...average was normally about 6 inches. From 1982 to 1983 the El Niño storms were responsible for approximately 2,000 deaths. Over $13 billion in damages in property and livelihood all over the world were a result from the powerful storms. Within this period, the thermocline of the South American Coast plummeted to about 500 feet. In less than a day, sea-surface temperatures along the coastal part of Peru rose to about 7 degrees fahrenheit. Aside from that, since the warm wet temperatures in the east coast of the US attracted mosquitoes, there were outbreaks of encephalitis happening all over. This period of phenomena caused a lot of destruction and severe medical conditions. In Montana, the dry hot weather made mice gravitate towards lower grounds in search of food and water, causing rattlesnakes to follow and thus biting more people. these snakes were venomous and their bites did a tremendous amount of harm to people. Within New Mexico, a deadly bacterial infection known as the bubonic plague, resulted from the cool wet spring that was triggered from rodents carrying fleas. Off the coast of Oregon, there was an a tremendous increase in shark attacks due to unusually warm sea temperatures. There was a reduction in salmon due to El Niño storms producing high temperatures in Alaska and Canada. In the east coast of the United States, the winter of 1982 to 1983 was the warmest in over 25 years. The 1982-83 El Niño Storms caused a significant amount of damage within the United States. There...
Words: 3214 - Pages: 13
...Click here to view authors’ intro video International Food and Agribusiness Management Review Volume 14, Issue 3, 2011 Economic Feasibility of a Mobile Fast Pyrolysis System for Sustainable Bio-crude Oil Production Marco A. Palmaa, James W. Richardsonb, Brad E. Robersonc, Luis A. Riberad Joe Outlawe and Clyde Munsterf Assistant Professor and Extension Economist Regent’s Professor and Senior Faculty Fellow c Research Associate d Associate Professor and Extension Economist e Professor and Extension Economist Department of Agricultural Economics, Texas A&M University, 600 John Kimbrough Blvd, 2124 TAMU. College Station, Texas, 77843-2124, U.S.A. b f a Professor, Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering, Room 127, Hobgood Building, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, 77843, U.S.A. Abstract This paper analyzed the economic feasibility of a mobile bioenergy pyrolysis system using a Monte Carlo simulation model. Pyrolysis transforms any cellulosic materials into i) a bio-oil similar to crude oil ii) a synthesis gas similar to natural gas, and iii) a bio-charcoal substance. The pyrolyzer machine is currently being manufactured and tested with various types of feedstocks including corn stover and energy sorghum. The economic analysis focused on creating an automated process that integrates a transportation logistics cost optimization model with geographic information system (GIS) data. The geographic data provides possible paths for the mobile bioenergy...
Words: 4491 - Pages: 18
...Porosity Porosity is defined as the percentage or fraction of void space to bulk volume of rock. If the sedimentary particles of a rock were of uniform size and packing, as shown inFigure 1 , Figure 1 Figure 2 , Figure 2 and Figure 3 , the calculation of porosity would be a simple exercise in solid geometry. Of course, actual reservoir rock is a much more complicated mixture of particles, and its porosity must be measured directly from core samples or estimated by well log analysis. Figure 3 The proportion and distribution of void space in a reservoir rock can be modified by the processes of cementation, solution, fracturing, and recrystallization. In reservoir engineering, primary porosity refers to the void spaces remaining after the sedimentation of particles into the rock matrix. Secondary porosity is caused by solution channels, fractures, and vugs in the bulk volume of the matrix, and is developed subsequent to the deposition of the rock. Where both types of porosity exist, the system is referred to as a dual porosity system. The production sequence of a dual porosity system may be very different from that of a primary porosity system.Table 1 (below) gives a general range of reservoir rock matrix porosities. Generally, reservoir rock martix porosities in the lower ranges are of commercial interest only when a secondary porosity system is present. Table 1--Rock matrix porosities (after Levorsen, 1967) : Negligible 0-5 Poor 5-10 ...
Words: 14010 - Pages: 57
...EMERGING TECHNOLOGY: AGRICULTURAL AND ANIMAL WASTE TO ENERGY Kathleen Cimino, Kimberly Andros, Teresa Bartley NEW TECHNOLOGIES IN ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT University of Maryland University College Spring 2009 Table of Contents 1.0 Introduction 1.1 Waste to energy definition/history/uses 1.2 Agricultural / Animal waste production 1.3 Graph, chart, quantities produced in United States, etc.. 2.0 Conversion of w2e 2.1 Conversion Pathways 2.1.1 Thermochemical 2.1.2 Biochemical 2.1.3 Physico-chemical 2.2 Factors affecting energy recovery 3.0 Agricultural Residue 3.1 Introduction to residue 3.2 What is it 3.3 Where is it produced 3.4 What is role in environment 3.4.1 Environmental risks 3.4.2 Health risks 3.5 Conversion of agricultural residue to energy 3.5.1 Process 3.5.2 Risks 3.5.3 Benefits 3.5.4 Future as energy source 4.0 Animal Wastes 4.1 Introduction to animal waste 4.2 What is animal waste comprised of 4.3 Where is it produced 4.4 What is its role in environment 4.4.1 Environmental risks 4.4.2 Health risks Table of Contents (Cont’d) 4.5 Conversion of animal waste to energy 4.5.1 Process 4.5.2 Risks 4.5.3 Benefits 4.5.4 Future as Energy source 5.0 Processes/Regulations/Technology 5.1 Availability of w2e facilities, costs 5.2 Technological benefits/risks 5.2.1 Other information on technology of w2e, production, transportation, environmental implications 5.3 Regulation governing...
Words: 8663 - Pages: 35
...EMERGING TECHNOLOGY: AGRICULTURAL AND ANIMAL WASTE TO ENERGY NEW TECHNOLOGIES IN ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT University of Maryland University College Spring 2009 Table of Contents 1.0 Introduction 1.1 Waste to energy definition/history/uses 1.2 Agricultural / Animal waste production 1.3 Graph, chart, quantities produced in United States, etc.. 2.0 Conversion of w2e 2.1 Conversion Pathways 2.1.1 Thermochemical 2.1.2 Biochemical 2.1.3 Physico-chemical 2.2 Factors affecting energy recovery 3.0 Agricultural Residue 3.1 Introduction to residue 3.2 What is it 3.3 Where is it produced 3.4 What is role in environment 3.4.1 Environmental risks 3.4.2 Health risks 3.5 Conversion of agricultural residue to energy 3.5.1 Process 3.5.2 Risks 3.5.3 Benefits 3.5.4 Future as energy source 4.0 Animal Wastes 4.1 Introduction to animal waste 4.2 What is animal waste comprised of 4.3 Where is it produced 4.4 What is its role in environment 4.4.1 Environmental risks 4.4.2 Health risks Table of Contents (Cont’d) 4.5 Conversion of animal waste to energy 4.5.1 Process 4.5.2 Risks 4.5.3 Benefits 4.5.4 Future as Energy source 5.0 Processes/Regulations/Technology 5.1 Availability of w2e facilities, costs 5.2 Technological benefits/risks 5.2.1 Other information on technology of w2e, production, transportation, environmental implications 5.3 Regulation governing w2e 6.0 Recommendations 6.1 Policy recommendations/guidelines...
Words: 8657 - Pages: 35
...Petroleum refers to the hydrocarbon compounds of crude oil and natural gas that are found in the underground rock formations Reservoirs are generally thousands of feet below the surface and are made up of the remains of small marine plants and animals that lived millions of years ago. Petroleum may also seep to the earth’s surface along fault lines and cracks Petroleum refers to both crude oil and natural gas Modern uses of petroleum and its byproducts include: Transportation fuels (gasoline, diesel, jet fuel, and compresses natural gas) Heating Fuels (Propane, heating oil and natural gas) Electric Generation fuels such as natural gas and fuel oil Manufactured products such as plastics and building materials. Crude oil refers to unrefined hydrocarbon mixtures produced from underground reservoirs that are liquid at atmospheric pressure and temperature Classified as either light or heavy depending on the density of the mixture Density is measured in API gravity Heavy crude oil has more of the longer, larger hydrocarbon molecules (greater density) Difficult to produce and transport to market; more expensive to process; weighs more but sells for less Natural Gas refers to hydrocarbon mixtures that are NOT liquid but gaseous at normal atmospheric pressure and temperature. Natural Gas is largely methane, which is a clear, odorless gas. It has the smallest natural hydrocarbon molecule (CH4). Natural Gas mare also contain some of the larger hydrocarbon molecules commonly...
Words: 6775 - Pages: 28
...EIA/ARI World Shale Gas and Shale Oil Resource Assessment SHALE GAS AND SHALE OIL RESOURCE ASSESSMENT METHODOLOGY INTRODUCTION This report sets forth Advanced Resources’ methodology for assessing the in-place and recoverable shale gas and shale oil resources for the EIA/ARI “World Shale Gas and Shale Oil Resource Assessment.” The methodology relies on geological information and reservoir properties assembled from the technical literature and data from publically available company reports and presentations. This publically available information is augmented by internal (nonconfidential) proprietary prior work on U.S. and international shale gas and shale oil resources by Advanced Resources International. The report should be viewed as an initial step toward future, more comprehensive assessments of shale gas and shale oil resources. As additional exploration data are gathered, evaluated and incorporated, the assessments of shale oil and gas resources will become more rigorous. RESOURCE ASSESSMENT METHODOLOGY The methodology for conducting the basin- and formation-level assessments of shale gas and shale oil resources includes the following five topics: 1. Conducting preliminary geologic and reservoir characterization of shale basins and formation(s). 2. Establishing the areal extent of the major shale gas and shale oil formations. 3. Defining the prospective area for each shale gas and shale oil formation. 4. Estimating the risked shale gas...
Words: 6989 - Pages: 28
...Introduction Brewing beer is really a very simple process, a unique mix of art and science that consists of a number of key steps. Brewing begins with malted barley that is milled and mixed with hot water to form a mash. During mashing, the malt starches are converted to sugars. The sugar rich water is then strained through the bottom of the mash and is now called wort. The wort then goes to the brew kettle where it is brought to a boil. During this stage, hops are added at different times during the boil for either bitterness or aroma. The wort is then cooled and aerated, and brewers' yeast is added for fermentation. The yeast produces alcohol and carbon dioxide and other byproducts from the sweet wort. After fermentation the "green beer" undergoes maturation. The last step in the brewing process is filtration, and then carbonation. Next the beer is moved to a holding tank where it stays until it is bottled or kegged. For a more detailed description of the brewing process click "Continue." Barley Malt Barley malt is to beer as grapes are to wine. It is ideally suited to brewing for many reasons. Malted barley has a high complement of enzymes for converting its starch supply into simple sugars and contains protein, which is needed for yeast nutrition. Of course, one important element is its flavor. There are two types of barley: six-row and two-row. [pic] Pale Ale Malt Barley Malt Six-row Barley Malt Generally, six-row barley has a higher enzyme content...
Words: 33569 - Pages: 135
...Chapter 28 Outlines Progressive Roots • There was unrest throughout the land because industrialists concentrated more and more power in fewer and fewer hands. • Progressive theorists insisted that society could no longer use the “let-alone” or laissez faire policy. • Before 1900, politicians and writers begun to pinpoint targets for the progressive attack. Bryan, Altgeld, and the Populists flamed about the “bloated trusts” with corruption and wrongdoing. • Henry Demarest Lloyd wrote Wealth Against Commonwealth in 1894, it was about the Standard Oil Company and on its “predatory wealth” and “conspicuous consumption” • Veblen viewed parasitic leisure class engaged in wasteful “business” which was making money for money’s sake rather than the productive “industry” which was making goods to satisfy real needs. • Jacob A. Riis was Danish and immigrated to the U.S. He was a reporter for the New York Sun, and he wrote How the Other Half Lives. It shocked the middle class Americans in 1890; he talked about diseases, and how dirty and how bad off the New York slums were. It influenced New York City police commissioner, Theodore Roosevelt. • Theodore Dreiser wrote the The Financier and The Titan. He battered promoters and profiteers. • A lot of the socialists were European immigrants where there were already socialist movements in the old world. Messengers of the social gospel promoted a brand of progressivism based on Christian teachings. They used religious doctrines...
Words: 3667 - Pages: 15
...By Dr. Robert E. Brooks, RBAC, Inc. and C.P. Neill, Logistic Solutions, Inc. Abstract Gridnet is an embedded-network-based LP system for simultaneously optimizing very large natural gas sourcing and transportation acquisition operations. Using the PS/2-based Wizard i860 co-processor, Gridnet solves generalized network problems with over 18,000 nodes and 200,000 arcs in under five minutes. The paper discusses the need and requirements for this system as well as the technical approach, implementation, and effects of installation at five user sites. The Setting Since the mid-1970's, we have been developing computer-based decision support systems involving the natural gas industry. In 1975 in his Ph.D. dissertation, Robert Brooks developed the first math programming model explicitly to represent all of the interstate natural gas pipelines in a comprehensive nationwide model of the supply, demand, and transportation of natural gas [1]. This served as the basis for forecasting models used by the U.S. Department of Energy and Federal Energy Regulatory Commission during the 1970's [2, 3, 4, 5]. In the first such model, gas supply was divided up into about thirty production regions and demand was specified by state. Each pipeline was represented by a network of nodes and arcs, one node for each state served by the pipeline, one arc connecting each pair of states whose border was crossed by the pipeline in each allowable direction. All pipeline interconnects between each pair of pipelines...
Words: 5343 - Pages: 22
...A Painted House John Grisham Chapter 1 The hill people and the Mexicans arrived on the same day. It was a Wednesday, early in September 1952. The Cardinals were five games behind the Dodgers with three weeks to go, and the season looked hopeless. The cotton, however, was waist-high to my father, over my head, and he and my grandfather could be heard before supper whispering words that were seldom heard. It could be a "good crop." They were farmers, hardworking men who embraced pessimism only when discussing the weather and the crops. There was too much sun, or too much rain, or the threat of floods in the lowlands, or the rising prices of seed and fertilizer, or the uncertainties of the markets. On the most perfect of days, my mother would quietly say to me, "Don't worry. The men will find something to worry about." Pappy, my grandfather, was worried about the price for labor when we went searching for the hill people. They were paid for every hundred pounds of cotton they picked. The previous year, according to him, it was $1.50 per hundred. He'd already heard rumors that a farmer over in Lake City was offering $1.60. This played heavily on his mind as we rode to town. He never talked when he drove, and this was because, according to my mother, not much of a driver herself, he was afraid of motorized vehicles. His truck was a 1939 Ford, and with the exception of our old John Deere tractor, it was our sole means of transportation. This was no particular problem except when...
Words: 119442 - Pages: 478
