All Flashcards
What are the environmental consequences of dam construction?
Habitat loss, altered water flow, disrupted fish migration, increased sedimentation.
How does dam construction affect local communities?
Displacement, changes in water availability, economic impacts (positive and negative).
What is the effect of sedimentation on hydropower generation?
Reduced reservoir capacity, decreased power generation, and increased maintenance costs.
How does altered water flow affect downstream ecosystems?
Changes in nutrient availability, habitat structure, and species composition.
What is the effect of dam removal on a river ecosystem?
Restoration of natural flow patterns, improved fish passage, and habitat recovery.
How does reservoir creation affect greenhouse gas emissions?
Decomposition of submerged vegetation can release methane, a potent greenhouse gas.
What are the effects of hydropower on water quality?
Changes in water temperature, dissolved oxygen levels, and nutrient cycling.
How does hydropower affect fish migration?
Dams can block fish migration routes, leading to population declines.
What is the impact of hydropower on local economies?
Job creation, increased tourism, and potential impacts on agriculture and fisheries.
How does hydropower affect flood control?
Dams can regulate water flow, reducing the risk of downstream flooding.
What is Hydropower?
Harnessing moving water to generate electricity.
What is a Reservoir?
An artificial lake created by a dam.
Define Turbine.
A device that converts kinetic energy of water into mechanical energy.
Define Generator.
A device that converts mechanical energy into electrical energy.
What is Kinetic Energy?
Energy possessed by a body due to its motion.
What is a Hydroelectric Dam?
A structure built across a river to store water and generate electricity.
Define Renewable Energy.
Energy from sources that are naturally replenished.
What is Tidal Power?
Capturing energy from ocean tides.
Define Sedimentation.
The deposition of sediment in a reservoir, reducing its capacity.
What is a Fish Ladder?
A structure that allows fish to migrate past a dam.
Why is hydropower considered renewable?
Water is continuously replenished through the water cycle.
Explain energy conversion in hydropower.
Potential energy of stored water converts to kinetic energy, then mechanical energy (turbine), then electrical energy (generator).
How do dams create potential energy?
By increasing the water's height, increasing gravitational potential energy.
Describe the relationship between water height and energy.
Higher water levels behind a dam result in greater potential energy and more electricity generation.
What role does gravity play in hydropower?
Gravity pulls water downwards, converting potential energy into kinetic energy to spin turbines.
What are the two main types of hydroelectric power generation?
Dams and tidal waves.