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 are the steps in generating hydroelectric power using a dam?
Reservoir creation, water release, turbine rotation, electricity generation, distribution.
Describe the process of converting water flow into electricity.
Kinetic energy of water turns a turbine, which powers a generator to produce electricity.
What are the steps involved in building a hydroelectric dam?
Site selection, environmental impact assessment, construction, reservoir filling, power generation.
What is hydropower?
Harnessing moving water to generate electricity using turbines.
Define reservoir in hydropower context.
Artificial lake created by a dam, storing water for electricity generation.
What is a turbine?
A device that converts the kinetic energy of water into mechanical energy.
Define kinetic energy.
Energy possessed by an object due to its motion.
What is a generator?
A device that converts mechanical energy into electrical energy.