All Flashcards
What are the environmental consequences of dam construction?
Habitat destruction, altered water flow, blocked fish migration, changes in water quality, increased sedimentation.
How does dam construction affect local ecosystems?
Changes water temperature, nutrient flow, and sediment deposition, impacting aquatic life.
What is the effect of dams on fish migration?
Dams obstruct fish migration routes, disrupting breeding cycles and population dynamics.
How do reservoirs impact greenhouse gas emissions?
Decomposition of submerged vegetation in reservoirs can release methane, a potent greenhouse gas.
What is the impact of hydropower on downstream water quality?
Altered water flow and oxygen levels can negatively affect downstream water quality.
How does dam construction affect local human populations?
Displacement of communities, changes in water availability, economic impacts, and altered recreational opportunities.
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.
What are the steps in hydroelectric power generation?
Reservoir creation, water release, kinetic energy generation, turbine rotation, electricity generation, distribution.
Describe water flow in a hydroelectric dam.
Water flows from the reservoir, through a penstock, turns the turbine, and exits downstream.