Notes, summaries, assignments, exams, and problems for Geology

Energy resources: renewable and non-renewable

Energy resources are classified into renewable and non-renewable.

Renewable resources

Renewable resources include solar, wind, geothermal, hydropower, biomass, and wave and tidal energy. They regenerate naturally and have a reduced environmental impact.

Non-renewable resources

Non-renewable resources include fossil fuels (hard coal, lignite, peat, petroleum, natural gas and oil shales) and nuclear fuels (uranium, thorium and plutonium), as well as fusion fuels (deuterium, tritium and lithium), whose resources are much larger than those of fossil fuels.

Forms of energy and conversion

Energy can appear in mechanical, electrical, thermal, chemical, solar or nuclear form, and it can be converted from one form... Continue reading "Global Energy Resources, Conversion, and Reserves" »

Soybean

Requires warm areas and medium-textured soils.

Neutral pH preferred; drought-tolerant.

Sowing from August 20th to August 30th.

Seeding rate: 2.5–4 kg/ha, spacing: 12.5 cm.

Nutrition and Fertilization

Nitrogen (N) requirements vary, with 0–30 kg N/ha. 9 Phosphorus (P), 30 Potassium (K).

Herbicides applied pre-emergence; insecticides for pest thresholds.

Harvest

Chemical desiccation harvest, 10 days after, at 12-16% moisture.

Dry seeds to 8% for storage.

Oilseed Rape

Typical rotation: Winter wheat, oilseed rape, spring barley.

Avoid planting oilseed rape within 4 years on the same field.

Medium-textured soils with good aeration.

Frost-resistant; requires adequate nutrient supply. Needs vernalization.

Early sowing by late August.

Plant density: 30-... Continue reading "Cultivation Practices for Key Crops: From Sowing to Harvest" »

117 Ways to Pass the Earth Science Regents

1. The same substance always has the same density.

2. As pressure increases, density increases.

3. As temperature increases, density decreases.

4. Water expands when it freezes.

5. Most changes are cyclic.

6. Water is most dense at 4^oC, when it is a liquid.

7. The true shape of the Earth is an oblate spheroid, but from space it looks like a sphere.

44. As temperature increases, air pressure decreases.

45. As moisture increases, pressure decreases.

46. Air pressure decreases with altitude.

47. Highs are cool and dry; lows are warm and wet.

48. Wind is due to air pressure differences.

49. Wind blows from high to low pressure.

50. Wind is named from the direction that it is coming from.

51. The accepted value is the... Continue reading "Earth Science Regents: 117 Key Concepts" »

Biodiesel: A Sustainable Diesel Alternative

Biodiesel is a renewable fuel made from vegetable oils, animal fats, or used cooking oils and serves as an eco-friendly alternative to diesel. It is produced through transesterification, where oils react with methanol in the presence of a catalyst to form biodiesel and glycerol.

• Benefits: It burns cleaner, reduces sulfur and particulate emissions, and can be used in existing diesel engines with minor or no modifications.
• Challenges: Its production is costly, requires large agricultural land for oil-producing crops, and it may thicken in cold climates, affecting performance.

Biomass: Harnessing Organic Energy

Biomass refers to organic materials like wood, crop residues, animal waste, and plant matter that... Continue reading "Renewable Bioenergy: Biodiesel, Biomass, and Biogas" »

How Hydroelectric Power Plants Work

Hydroelectric power plants harness the potential energy of water stored in rivers, lakes, and reservoirs to generate electricity. This energy is transformed into mechanical energy when water falls from a certain height and passes through a hydraulic turbine. The generator coupled to the turbine converts this mechanical energy into electrical energy, which is fed into the grid. Hydropower is one of the oldest forms of energy utilization and remains one of the most efficient and reliable today.

Main Types of Hydroelectric Facilities

There are several types of hydroelectric power plants depending on their characteristics:

Run-of-River Plants

Run-of-river plants use the natural flow of the river and produce electricity... Continue reading "Harnessing Water for Sustainable Electricity Generation" »

1. History and Use of Climate Models

Climate models have evolved from basic atmospheric simulations to complex Earth System Models (ESMs) that integrate interactions between the atmosphere, hydrosphere, biosphere, and cryosphere. Early models were based on atmospheric circulation patterns and energy balance equations, while modern models incorporate greenhouse gas emissions, ocean currents, and land-use changes. These models help scientists predict climate change, simulate past climate conditions, and evaluate human impacts on the environment. 2,000 years ago, Theophrastus noticed that draining marshes created a colder climate and deforestation made the ground warmer. FAR, SAR, TAR, and AR4 are climate models with increasing pixel resolution.... Continue reading "Understanding Earth Systems: Climate Models and Atmospheric Dynamics" »

Environmental Laws

Republic Act No. 6969 — Toxic Substances Act

Republic Act No. 6969 (Toxic Substances and Hazardous and Nuclear Wastes Control Act of 1990)

Regulates toxic substances and hazardous waste.

Penalties: Fines up to ₱500,000 or imprisonment (6–12 years).

Republic Act No. 8749 — Philippine Clean Air Act

Republic Act No. 8749 (Philippine Clean Air Act of 1999)

Establishes air pollution control policies.

Penalties: Fines of ₱10,000–₱100,000 per day; suspension of permits.

Republic Act No. 9003 — Ecological Solid Waste Management

Republic Act No. 9003 (Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000)

Implements solid waste management programs.

Penalties: Fines of ₱1,000–₱1,000,000; suspension of permits.

Republic Act No. 9275

Harnessing Solar Power: Technologies and Potential

Solar power plants are facilities that harness the energy that reaches the Earth from the Sun in the form of electromagnetic radiation. This source is practically inexhaustible and has enormous potential, as the solar energy that reaches the Earth in one hour exceeds the global annual energy consumption.

Key Solar Energy Conversion Technologies

Solar radiation can be converted into electrical or thermal energy through different technologies, each with its own specific characteristics:

1. Photovoltaic (PV) Solar Energy

Photovoltaic solar energy is based on the use of panels made of semiconductor cells capable of transforming light into electricity through the photoelectric effect. Key operational... Continue reading "Solar Energy Technologies: PV, Thermal, and CSP Explained" »

How Biomass Power Plants Generate Renewable Energy

Biomass power plants utilize organic matter as fuel to generate electricity and heat. Biomass includes a wide variety of materials:

• Agricultural residues: Straw and husks.
• Forest residues: Branches and bark.
• Wood industry waste: Sawdust and offcuts.
• Energy crops: Plants grown specifically for fuel.
• Biodegradable municipal waste.
• Manure and fermented feedstocks: Used to produce biogas.

The Carbon-Neutral Cycle

Biomass is considered a renewable energy source because it originates from living organisms that capture atmospheric CO₂ during growth. While burning biomass releases CO₂, these emissions are part of a natural cycle and are considered carbon-neutral if extraction is performed sustainably.

Operational

Harnessing the Earth's Internal Heat

Geothermal power plants are facilities that harness the Earth’s internal heat to produce electricity or to supply useful heat to district heating networks. This heat comes from the radioactive decay of elements present in the Earth’s mantle and from the residual heat from the planet’s formation.

The Geothermal Gradient

As one goes deeper below the Earth’s surface, temperature increases by about 30 °C per kilometer, although this value can vary significantly depending on the geological activity of the area. In regions with volcanoes, active faults, or deep underground aquifers, this geothermal gradient can be much higher, allowing the direct use of steam or hot water for electricity generation.

How Geothermal