English for environmental technology

ENGLISH for Environmental Technology DANG THI VAN ANH PHAN VU BINH MINH HCMC UNIVERSITY OF TECHNICAL EDUCATION FACULTY OF FOREIGN LANGUAGES ******************* DANG THI VAN ANH PHAN VU BINH MINH ENGLI[.]

ENGLISH

for

Environmental Technology DANG THI VAN ANH - PHAN VU BINH MINH

HCMC UNIVERSITY OF TECHNICAL EDUCATION

FACULTY OF FOREIGN LANGUAGES

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Unit 1: ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY? 5

Unit 2: THE ATMOSPHERE AND ECOSYSTEM 13

Unit 3: ENERGY RESOURCES 23

Unit 4: AIR POLLUTION 34

Unit 5: NOISE POLLUTION 49

Unit 6: WATER POLLUTION 58

Unit 7: WASTEWATER TREATMENT 73

Unit 8: SOLID WASTES 89

Unit 9: SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT 102

Unit 10: SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT 114

REFERENCES 129

ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND

1 What do you think is environmental science?

2 How do you distinguish the Earth sciences and environmental science?

3 How do you distinguish environmental science and environmental technology?

4 How many branches of environmental science do you think of? What are they?

1

LISTENING

Task 1: Listen to the lecturer talking about branches of environmental

science and fill in the blanks

1 Various branches of environmental science can be broadly categorized as sciences, _,

environmental

2 sciences study the phenomena of the Earth’s gaseous outer with an emphasis on its relationship to other of the biosphere

3 analyzes the dynamics of a in a given area and some aspects of its environment

4 Environmental focuses on chemical alterations in the environment, including contamination and water

5 Geosciences include disciplines such as geology, physical and geomorphology

6 Environmental is a process of appraisal through which environmental protection and development are considered

(Adapted from Lee, 2009)

Task 2: Listen to the lecturer talking about the Earth sciences and

environmental science and fill in the blanks

1 Both the sciences and environmental science deal with process and change in our natural environment

2 Environmental science is principally concerned with changes made by _ _ and the subsequent implications for the ecosphere

3 The Earth sciences focus on process and change within the _ environment without the added factor of _ intervention

(Adapted from Lee, 2009)

Task 3: Work with a partner and answer the questions below, using

information from two lectures above

1 How many branches of Environmental science are there? What are they?

2 What are the similarities and differences between the Environmental science and the Earth science?

3 What does the atmospheric science deal with?

4 What does ecology deal with?

5 What does environmental chemistry focus on?

6 What do geosciences include?

7 What is environmental assessment?

Task 1: What are meanings of the following prefixes? Give at least one

example to each prefix

bio-

eco-

geo-

inter-

meteoro-

………

………

………

………

………

………

………

………

………

………

Task 2: Complete each sentence with one of the words or phrases in the

box Change the form if necessary

1 A huge coal _ has been found in Western Africa

2 The _ was created to stop urban areas spreading into

3 They haven’t built any new nuclear power _ since the late 1980s

4 The oxygen atom _ with the oxygen molecule to form ozone

5 The series of changes that a living thing goes through from the beginning of its life until death is called a _

6 A food _ is the flow of energy from one organism to the next

7 A food _ extends the food chain concept from a simple pathway to a complex network of interactions

8 _ gas emissions continue to rise as the world economy grows

(Adapted from Lee, 2009)

READING

WHAT IS ENVIRONMENTAL TECHNOLOGY?

Environmental technology refers to the field of science concerned with reducing the human impact on the environment through technological advances or improvements Some common applications of environmental technology deal with reducing energy consumption, limiting man-made damage to the physical environment, and reducing waste Areas of research in the field may involve cleaner energy sources, improved energy efficiency in transportation and buildings, and methods that decrease or prevent pollution This is a broad field that draws on many sciences, some of which include chemistry, ecology, and biology Innovation and advances in environmental technology may have commercial applications, save money, or be designed to meet government regulations

One focus of environmental technology is on finding, using, and developing clean sources of energy that have a limited impact on the natural environment The use of fossil fuels in electricity production transportation is not only responsible for releasing particulate matter known as smog, but also for emitting carbon dioxide According to the United States government and others, carbon dioxide is a greenhouse gas and pollutant with the potential to harm human health through climate change

Other applications of environmental technology may deal with other aspects of electricity generation This may include improving the efficiency, capacity, or availability of newer power sources, such as wind turbines or solar panels It may also involve developing relatively newer sources of energy like wave power or hydrogen fuel cells

Basic economic factors are often a spur to advances in environmental technology This is due in part to the fact that cost-saving solutions are usually the most efficient Cost increases of fuels such as gasoline, for instance, have led to technology aimed at reducing fuel consumption Advances in automobile fuel efficiency lower fuel costs while reducing harmful emissions Many countries have vehicle efficiency regulations that were originally developed to conserve energy and keep fuel prices low but also help combat pollution problems like smog

Various ways of making buildings more energy efficient have also been a focus of the science This could include reducing energy costs related to lighting, heating and cooling, and water use So-called sustainable or green design refers to the planned use of environmental technology in constructing new buildings that have minimal environmental impact Environmental technology also deals with diverse topics related to human and environmental health, such as waste management, toxicology, and wildlife protection

(Schreiber, 2015)

Task 1: Complete each space in the following statements with no more

than four words from the reading text

1 _ is commonly concerning cleaner energy sources, energy-efficient transportation and buildings, and pollution-preventive methods

2 Environmental technology draws on many sciences including _

3 Environmental technology focuses on improving the _ of newer power sources, such as wind turbines or solar panels and developing relatively

_

4 Environmental technology also focuses on ways of making

5 Advances in environmental technology are results of seeking and reducing _

Task 2: Answer the following questions with a partner

1 What is environmental technology?

2 In what way is environmental technology different from environmental science?

3 What do applications of environmental technology deal with?

4 What do you think is the most important aspect/ application of environmental technology? Why?

5 Is there a relationship between enviromental technology and sustainable development? What is it, if any?

TRANSLATION

Task 1: Translate the following sentences into Vietnamese

1 Environmental science is often equated with the Earth science disciplines, such as geology and meteorology

2 The phrase human activity is a common factor that connects all

the disciplines together under the umbrella of Environmental science

3 Environmental science exists as a body of knowledge where specialists work together to address a particular problem that has been created by human activity

(Adapted from Lee, 2009)

Task 2: Translate the following sentences into English

1 Sinh quyển là một yếu tố quan trọng của Trái Đất Nó bao gồm:

vỏ trái đất, nước và khí quyển Nó chính là ngôi nhà chung cho tất cả các loài sinh vật

2 Hệ sinh thái bao gồm tập hợp các quần xã sinh vật và khu vực sống của sinh vật

3 Các nhà địa mạo học nghiên cứu về sự hình thành và phát triển của địa hình và dự đoán các biến đổi của địa hình trong tương lai thông qua việc kết hợp các quan sát thực tế và thí nghiệm vật lý

FURTHER READING

WHAT DO ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENTISTS DO?

Did you you know that in recent years we have had some of the worst weather since records were first compiled? In 2005, hurricane Katrina laid waste to large areas of Louisiana in the southern United States, and in the same year drought brought misery to thoudands of communities across the

UK The sheer scale and complexity of current environmental problems in the 21st century has created a need for scientists and researchers with a background in environmental science Environmental scientists are increasingly playing an important role in helping to manage and avert changes to our natural environmental and even to confront wildful ecocide But what exactly do environmental scientists do?

Environmental science is a field of study that aims to help human society better understand and manage the fauna and flora that share the environment with us Scientists within this subject focus on the interactions between human society and the environment, and see how they can improve things The science is a combination of geology, geography, physics, chemistry and biology By drawing on these fields of study, the environmental scientist attempts to solve problems by providing sustainable solutions where man has a negative impact on the ecology of a region This role is multi-faceted and may include such tasks

as identifying sources of pollution, assessing the level of flood risk to a new housing development or perhaps sampling soils from brown field sites that could be turned over to new uses

What kind of jobs do you find environmental scientists working in? Environmental science is a broad subject and you find that people tend to specialize in one area, although they will often change in their career The greatest number of environmental scientists is employed by government, but more and more posts are appearing in the private sector because of the need for public companies to adhere to new environmental rules and regulations

One common career path is in environmental analysis In this field, specialists research the impact on environment of proposed new building developments They consider the ways that these developments may create new sources of pollution, propose preventive measures and decide

up the ways that the project can be completed without damaging local ecosystems

Another common area for environmental scientists is environmental

environment – like nulcear plants and oil refineries – are not breaking environmental laws They help these big polluters reduce inefficient production methods and cut the amount of hazardous waste they produce Environmental scientists can also work as educators in parks and areas devoted to conservation and ecology, where they teach people about the ecosphere and how to live in a more eco-friendly manner

Finally, environmental scientists manage the the use of natural resources in both the private and public sphere For example, they may manage areas of outstanding natural beauty for lanf which belongs to the military, or they may look after fishing stocks in rivers on a private estate What is the future for environmental science? As humans increasingly affect fragile ecosystems in many places around the world, and as we become more aware of the interconnectedness of ecosystems,

it is clear that environmental scientists will play an ever-increasing role

(Lee, 2009, p.17)

THE ATMOSPHERE AND

aerosol altitude atmosphere atom Bromine

Chlorofluorocarbon composition exhaust molecule

Ozone pesticide pollutant radiation smog ultraviolet

2

1 What do you think the atmosphere is?

2 What does each picture show?

3 How does/did each item affect the atmosphere?

2 An _ consists of electrons, protons and neutrons

3 _ radiation is a key factor in the development of skin cancers

4 Man-made _ have contributed to the destruction of the ozone layer

5 Nitrous oxide is produced by _ gases

6 An _ is a substance stored in a container under pressure, normally with a propellant gas, for use as a fine spray

7 _ help farmers but sometimes damage the environment

(Adapted from Lee, 2009)

LISTENING

Task 1: Listen to the lecturer talking about the atmosphere and find the

mistake in each statement below One statement has only one mistake

1 The atmosphere is a very simple structure

2 The atmosphere consists of one layer of gases, particles and water vapour

3 With the atmosphere, life would not exist on our planet

4 It is quite thick, just like the outer skin on an onion

5 Biological processes play a small role in its past, current and future composition

(Adapted from Lee, 2009)

Task 2: Listen to part 2 of the lecture and fill in the blanks

clear boundary between the

layers, scientists divided the

atmosphere into four layers

according to temperature and

stratosphere, mesosphere, and

temperature drops as we go

up through the troposphere,

but it rises as we move

through the next layer, the stratosphere The farther away from earth, the thinner the atmosphere gets

1 TROPOSPHERE

This is the layer of the atmosphere closest to the Earth's surface,

75% of the atmosphere's mass The troposphere is wider at the equator than at the poles Temperature and pressure drops as you go higher up the troposphere At 18 kilometres, the division between the troposphere and the stratosphere, the temperature plunges to minus 60oC In addition, this layer is the only one that has any meaningful weather system

2 STRATOSPHERE

This layer lies directly

above the troposphere and is

about 35 km deep It extends

from about 15 to 50 km above

the Earth's surface

warmer at the top than the

bottom The lower portion has a

nearly constant temperature

with height but in the upper

portion the temperature increases with altitude because of absorption of sunlight by ozone This temperature increases with altitude, so it is the opposite of the situation in the troposphere

3 MESOSPHERE

Directly above the stratosphere, extending from 50 to 80 km above the Earth's surface, the mesosphere is a cold layer where the temperature generally decreases with increasing altitude The reason is because of an absence of gases and water vapour to absorb energy from ultraviolet radiation Here in the mesosphere, the atmosphere is very rarefied nevertheless thick enough to slow down meteors hurtling into the atmosphere, where they burn up, and leave fiery trails in the night sky

4 THERMOSPHERE

extends from 80 km above the

Earth's surface to outer space

The temperature is hot and

may be as high as thousands of

degrees It is because in the

thermosphere, few molecules,

which are mostly broken into

extraordinary large amounts of

energy from the Sun These ions are important because they can reflect radio waves and therefore allow signals to travel around the globe These ions are also responsible for the northern and southern lights However, the thermosphere would actually feel very cold to us because of the probability that these few molecules will hit our skin and transfer enough energy to cause appreciable heat, which is extremely low

(Vtaide.com, n.d.)

Task 1: Read the text carefully and answer the questions below

1 Basing on the temperature and altitude, how many layers do

scientists divide the atmosphere into? What are they?

2 Which layers are at the height 20 km?

3 Which layers have the hottest temperature?

4 Why is the mesosphere cold?

5 Which layers contain mostly the atmosphere’s mass? Why?

6 Which layers can help human to transfer the signals? Why?

7 Which layers will absorb the ultraviolet radiaton?

8 In which layers the temperature and pressure will decrease with

increasing altitude?

Task 2: Listen to the statements and decide whether they are True or

False, using information from the text above

THE BIOSPHERE AND ECOSYSTEMS: our planet’s life support

system

Task 3: Scan the text and match the words or phrases on the column A

with their definition on the column B

b A system that has no inputs from outside

c The animal and plant life of a particular region

d Dead organic region

e Extremely small living things that cannot be seen by the naked eye

f The part of the Earth’s environment where life exists

One key aspect of Ecology is the study of the Earth’s biological systems and the interactions that occur within them The largest system is the biosphere, which can be described as the intersection of air, water and land, where life exists Life only exists because it can draw components from these three elements For example, plant can only thrive because they capture CO2 from the atmosphere which is then converted into food molecules The biosphere refers to the planet as a whole However, when

we look at the interaction of different populations of organisims which live together in a particular location and the way they interact with the physical environment, we are describing another biological system which

is known as an ecosystem

There are two fundamental characteristics of the Earth’s biosphere

we should consider Firstly, the biosphere is actually a very thin zone of life Within this zone, the majority of life occurs in an even narrower band of tolerance which begins at around 200 metres below the ocean’s surface and ends at around 6,000 metres above sea level Beyond this zone, life becomes sparse However, every year we are making new discoveries of life forms in areas which had been considered to be devoid

of life For example, scientists have found microorganisims, living things which are too small to be seen withoust a microscope, in deep Antarctic ice core samples which had been thought to be sterile Furthermore, a research focusing on deep sea volcanic vents has shown that numerous species, including giant tube worms, clams and shrimps, can survive in extremely high water temperatures and pressures

vital to almost all

life forms on our

example, the CO2 you exhale today may be used by a sunflower during photosynthesis next month in southern France This CO2 is incorporated into carbohydrates (food molecules) produced by the sunflower and stored as seed The seeds are then consumed by birds and the carbohydrates are broken down again into their constituent parts during cellular energy production The cycle is completed when the CO2 is released back into the atmosphere

Within each ecosystem, the biota (that is, the flora and fauna of a particular location) can be classified into three basic types The first type are all the green plants we see around us These are known as producers They convert water and CO2 into carbohydrateds and release oxygen as a waste product This process is important because, along with minerals, carbohydrates allow plants to produce the organic compounds they need

to survive

The second type

of organism is known as

the consumer and within

this grouping we find

three basic types The

first type are called

They are herbivores that

obtain their energy in

the form of complex

feeding on the producers Organisms that feed on this group are known as secondary consumers, and those that feed on secondary consumers are described as tertiary consumers Both secondary and tertiary consumers are also known as carnivores Therefore, we see that, within an ecosystem, a food chain exists where there is a transfer of energy starting with the producer and finishing with the tertiary consumer To illustrate this, imagine a snail feeding on a leaf The snail is caught and consumed

by a blackbird, and the blackbird is then eaten by a cat Parasites are further type of consumer They can be either plants or animals that live in

or on another organism Often they can be harmful to the “host” but they

do not commonly kill it; rather they coexist with the host

The final types of organism found in an ecosystem are the detritivores and the decomposers Detritivores such as earth worms feed

on detritus or dead plant and animal material Decomposers such as bacteria and fungi consume dead organisms and their waste products Both play crucial roles in the ecosystem because they break down organic matter and release nutrients back into the environment

4 Oak trees, sunflowers, grass are examples of producers

5 A cat in this text is a representative of tertiary consumers

6 The cycle in figure A is completed when the hawk died and it is decomposed by bacteria and fungi

7 In an biosphere cycle, waste products of this organism will be used by others

8 Because parasites do not kill the host, they are not considered

consumers

TRANSLATION

Task 1: Translate the following sentences into Vietnamese

1 CFCs in aerosols and refrigerators were initially replaced with hydrochlorofluorocarbons or HCFCs, which are now thought to

be potent greenhouse gases

2 The three major influences on the development of the atmosphere have been solar radiation, volcanic activity and

biological processes

3 It is clear that the biosphere is a closed systems which has only one significant input, namely solar energy Components such as water, atmospheric gases and minerals are constantly recycled within the biosphere rather than being added to from an outside

source

4 At the initial stage, the CO2 is exhaled by a primary, secondary

or tertiary consumer The CO2 may then be captured by a green plant to be used when it produces food molecules during

photosynthesis

5 These food molecules are then stored as seeds The process is finished when the seeds are eaten by a primary consumer and the CO2 is released back into the environment as a waste product

of cellular energy production

Task 2: Translate the following sentences into English

1 Vào thời nguyên thủy, Trái Đất được bao quanh bởi một tầng khí quyển mỏng, chủ yếu bao gồm khí Hidro và Hêli

2 Sự hoạt động của núi lửa cũng góp phần tạo ra các loại khí cần thiết để hình thành khí quyển

3 Trong thực tế, cú và các loài chim nhỏ nên được xếp vào sinh vật tiêu thụ bậc 3 vì thức ăn của chúng thường là các sinh vật tiêu thụ bậc 2

FURTHER READING

OZONE DEPLETION

Ozone layer is important

because it acts as a shield

protecting animal and plant

life from harmful ultraviolet

radiation There are actually

two ozone layers: one of them

occurs in the stratosphere, the

other in the troposphere The

one in the stratosphere is by

far the bigger of the two and is

formed naturally The ozone

layer in the troposphere is anthropogenic, or produced by human activity What are the chemical processes that create ozone? To start with,

UV radiation splits an oxygen molecule into oxygen atoms Then, one of these atoms combines with another oxygen molecule to form an ozone molecule (O3) Actually, ozone is constantly being formed and destroyed;

a natural balance between the production and destruction of these molecules seems to exist

However, at the beginning of the 20th century, human industrial activity has upset this balance by producing Chlorine-based chemicals called Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) These compounds have accelerated the destruction of the ozone layer, especially in the Polar Regions Actually, a reduction in the ozone layer would lead to DNA damage and

an increase in skin cancers and cataracts It would reduce photosynthesis, and even disrupt the way insects navigate and see

In 1987, over 30 countries signed the Montreal Protocol in which the signatories agreed to cut CFC use by 50% by the year 2000 This protocol was further extended two years later, when over 80 countries agreed to stop using CFCs completely by the year 2000 Also, in 1991, a fund was set up to help developing countries change over to non-CFC technologies and it has met with some success Hopefully, new technologies will continue to provide safer alternatives to CFCs, HCFCs and other gases that harm the atmosphere However, there is still some use of ozone-depleting gases, such as methyl bromide in some pesticides, and some countries who haven’t signed the Montreal Protocol are still using CFCs So, it is estimated that it will take several lifetimes for the ozone layer to recover

(Lee, 2009)

(Lee, 2009)

1 Name the types of energy production

2 Which types are most commonly used today?

3 Will this situation stay the same in the future?

VOCABULARY

Read the text carefully and fill in the blanks with given words in the box

Faculty: Environmental Science

Lecture: Introduction to energy resources

Without energy, it would be very difficult for modern society to function and for modern industry to operate its machines There are four basic kinds of energy we can use:

1 The Earth’s internal heat – this is often exploited as (1) _ power

2 Solar activity – this provides energy for the wind and water

cycle It is converted into biomass via (2) and it then

generate heat and light

3 The pull of the Moon and Sun – the (3) effect causes tides

7

4 (4) power – energy released from atoms

All types of energy consumption have an effect on our natural environment For example, there is a direct linkage between the burning

of (5) _ and increasing global temperatures In addition, sulphur dioxide, which is a by-product of burning coal, contributes to (6) which damages our natural surrounding Therefore, it has become important for countries around the world to make hard decisions, and to develop less harmful types of energy production to (7) the growing environmental problems which we face

(Adapted from Lee, 2009)

LISTENING

Task 1: Listen to the lecture and put the information into the right order

1 This unexpected temperature in the water will

change the local ecosystem, which is called thermal

pollution

2 Oil spills have bad effects on our marine and

coastal environments

3 Coal and oil-fired power stations need large

amounts of water for cooling, which is then released back

into the body of water at a high temperature

4 Coal and oil has bad repercussion on the

Task 2: Discuss in group the following questions then listen to the

lecturer to find the correct answers

1 What are the main renewable types?

2 Is wind power used recently only? Why?

3 What is the main function of wind power today?

4 What does the amount of generated power depend on?

5 What are environmental problems caused by power generation

Task 3: Listen to the lecturer talking about wind energy and fill in the

blanks

Of course, wind power has been used for centuries, mainly for (1) _ and (2) _ But these days, it’s increasingly used

to (3) _ In slide 4 you can see how this process works

Unfortunately, an average annual (4) of over 5 cubic metres per second is desirable if a wind farm is to be (5) So, it follows that the sites chosen to locate wind farms have a good (6) Actually, even when wind farms are located in (7) , it has been estimated that they only operate for a third of the time

On the other hand, it’s clear that the more wind farms we build, the less we will be dependent on (8) _ What I mean is, although some people say wind farms are not (9) _, basically they’re still a less polluting option than (10) _

(Adapted from Lee, 2009, p.41)

READING

Task 1: Categorize the following ideas into advantages (A) and disadvantages (D) of solar power Write the letter on the space given

before each idea

1 It works well in remote areas where there isn’t easy access to the National Grid

2 In many countries there is too much ‘dark time’, especially in winter, when most power would be needed for lighting and heating

3 It works in cold and cloudy conditions too Solar power has been used in both the Arctic and Antarctic

4 It works well in poorer, hot countries as it costs very little to run A small PV cell can power a whole house

5 It is expensive to install – the materials are costly

6 Storage and transportation of the electricity to where it

is needed is difficult

7 The sun isn’t going to run out – well not for another 5000

million years! So it is a sustainable form of energy (provided the

materials required to make the equipment don’t run out)

8 No harmful gases are released once the equipment is installed

9 Large scale solar farms take up land which could be used for growing crops for food; and they are considered ugly

by some people

SOLAR POWER

We live on a solar-powered planet; the ultimate source of energy

on this planet is the sun; the feel of the heat of the sun on your skin is solar energy! It provides energy for plants to grow, which in turn provide food (which is energy) for animals The sun provides us with heat and light every day, which we can use to make electricity There are three types of solar power:

1 PVs

You’ll have seen solar powered

calculators, watches and garden patio

lights? The same technology can be

used to provide electricity to whole

buildings - just on a larger scale This

type of solar power comes from

photovoltaic cells or PVs Lots of PVs

together make up solar panels on the

roofs of houses and other buildings

They work by using the sunlight to split

electrons from atoms The energy

released during this process is

converted into electricity

2 Thermal collectors

These create hot water rather than electricity They are made up of

a series of tubes sandwiched between sheets of glass (with a black backing to absorb the sun’s heat) on the roofs of houses Water in the tubes heats up in the sunlight and starts to flow into a hot water tank Bingo - the house has hot water! Systems like this can reduce the need for other energy sources by two thirds

3 Passive solar energy

This is when a building is designed and built to make the most of the natural position of the sun So in the Northern Hemisphere (e.g UK,

USA, China) houses can be built facing south (where the sun shines most

of the day) with big windows on that side to act like a greenhouse and warm the house without having to put the heating (or lights) on as much This can halve heating bills!

Concentrated Solar Power (CSP)

oil This creates

steam to turn turbines and generate electricity The best place for this technology to be used is in the desert

 Within 6 hours deserts receive more energy from the sun than the whole of the world’s population uses in a year

 Every year 1 square km of desert receives an amount of solar energy equivalent to 1.5 million barrels of oil This means that only 1%

of the world’s deserts would need to be used to meet the world’s current energy needs

 According to DESERTEC, 90% of people live within 2,700 km

of a desert and could be supplied with solar electricity from there Developing countries such as China and India could avoid the use of fossil fuels in their development by moving straight over to this technology

 It is possible to store the solar heat in melted salts so electricity can still be generated when it is not sunny

 Another advantage of CSP is that sea water could be desalinated

to provide fresh drinking water in arid regions using the waste heat from CSP plants It could also be used to water plants for food which could be grown in the shaded areas underneath the mirrors

There are 4 main systems of Concentrated Solar Power Technology:

1 The Solar Tower is a new

system currently being tested in

Spain It could provide enough

energy for 600,000 people It’s a

giant concrete tower, 40 storeys

high surrounded by 624 heliostats

at the base all focused on the top of

the tower where it can heat up

water pipes, to create steam which

is blasted through turbines

2 Trough Systems use curved

mirrors to focus light onto a tube containing oil or a similar fluid that carries the heat to a place where it can be used to create steam and generate electricity

3 Fresnel Mirrors work in the same way as the trough system but

instead these are long, flat mirrors placed at different angles Sometimes they are focused onto photovoltaic solar panels

4 Dishes of mirrors track the sun (a bit like a giant television

satellite dish) They each have a Stirling engine at their focal point which works by using an external heat source (unlike a standard internal-combustion engine which may run off petrol or diesel) to convert the heat energy into electricity

(Sims, n.d.) See the website www.trec-uk.org.uk for further information

Task 2: Answer the following questions

1 What are solar panels on the roofs of houses used for?

2 Which type of the solar power is the cheapest? Which type is the most efficient?

3 Who are beneficiaries of the CSP technology?

4 What are advantages of the CSP technologies?

5 What are main differences between four main systems of CSP technology?

Task 3: Discuss the following questions

1 Which type of the solar energy is the most popularly used in your country?

2 Which direction do you think houses in the Southern Hemisphere (e.g Australia, New Zealand and Argentina) should face?

3 Which do you think is the most advantageous characteristic of solar power?

4 Although advantages outnumber drawbacks, why have solar energy not totally replaced traditional energy like thermal power

or hydroelectric energy?

Task 1: Explain the bolded words/ phrases in the following sentences

taken from the reading text

1 They are made up of a series of tubes sandwiched between

sheets of glass on the roofs of houses

2 This is a new system where giant movable mirrors called

heliostats are used to reflect the sun’s rays and concentrate the

heat onto a vessel containing water or another liquid, similar to

oil

3 Another advantage of CSP is that sea water could be

desalinated to provide fresh drinking water in arid regions

using the waste heat from CSP plants

4 It’s a giant concrete tower, 40 storeys high surrounded by 624 heliostats at the base all focused on the top of the tower where it

can heat up water pipes, to create steam which is blasted

through turbines

5 Dishes of mirrors track the sun (a bit like a giant television

satellite dish)

Task 2: Complete the sentences with appropriate words/ phrases from

the box

On a big scale, solar technologies are used to (1) whole settlements, space craft and satellites.Here are some examples:

 The largest Solar PV ‘farm’ in the world is about to be completed near Moura in Portugal Each of the 2520 solar panels is the size of a (2) ! It is expected to provide power for 30,000 homes

 (3) _and the Hubble Space Telescope are covered in solar

PV cells which power the computers, cameras and radio systems

on board Up in space there are no clouds or seasons to (4) _with the sunshine!

 The (5) _sent to Mars have solar cells too ‘Spirit’ and

‘Opportunity’ (6) along using solar power so they can take amazing photographs and send them back to Earth The two robots were only meant to last for a 90 day (7) _– they have now been up there more than 5 years!

 The World’s largest solar (8) _is in Rajasthan, India It can produce food for 10,000 people!

TRANSLATION

Task 1: Translate the following paragraphs into Vietnamese

1 The oil was made under the seas and oceans from the decomposition of microscopic life called phytoplankton With layer upon layer of decaying phytoplankton create high temperatures and pressure The organic matter is transformed into complex hydrocarbons, which are the main compound that creates oils

2 Wave and tidal energy facilities generate electricity without producing any pollutant emissions or greenhouse gases Wave and tidal facilities also have little or no visual impact, as they are either submerged or do not rise very far above the waterline

3 In the geothermal plants, the geothermal fluids contain elevated levels of arsenic, mercury, lithium and boron because of the underground contact between hot fluids and rocks Its waste is released into rivers or lakes instead of being injected into the geothermal field These pollutants can damage aquatic life and make the water unsafe for drinking or irrigation

Task 2: Translate the following paragraphs into English

1 Một tác động nghiêm trọng của ngành công nghiệp năng lượng địa nhiệt đến môi trường là ô nhiễm thạch tín Mức độ thạch tín trong sông Waikato hầu như luôn luôn vượt quá tiêu chuẩn cho nước uống của Tổ chức Y tế Thế giới

2 Việc đốt sinh khối để sản xuất điện gây ảnh hưởng đến chất lượng không khí Mức độ khí thải ở các nhà máy điện sinh khối thường là khác nhau, tùy thuộc vào nguyên liệu, công nghệ đốt

và cách thức kiểm soát ô nhiễm Tuy nhiên, các chất ô nhiễm phổ biến nhất thường bao gồm các khí NOx, SO2, CO và một số khí khác

FURTHER READING

Water power goes back 2500 years when water wheels where first used to power mills The rotating wheel would be attached to a mechanism which could grind wheat into flour, or weave wool Water mills were very common until electricity became easily available in the 19th century

Modern water power is called hydro-electric power (HEP) and water

is used to generate electricity

There are many different ways to do this:

Dams, Reservoirs and Rivers

The most common form of HEP is when a dam is built across a river and a huge lake or reservoir forms behind the dam Water is then let out

through the dam where there are turbines that spin as the water flows through them The turbines are connected to generators and these produce electricity This power is then transported along cables and

distributed to homes, offices and factories 15% of the world’s renewable energy is produced like this – more than any other renewable energy source

Wave Power

Waves are formed when the wind blows across the surface of the sea There is a lot of power in waves and this can be used to make electricity There are different types of wave electricity generators

Oscillating Water Columns (OWCs) are situated at the shore and the

waves crash into them, sending water up a concrete column, forcing air through a turbine at the top of the column

‘Nodding Ducks’ float up and down on the surface of the sea and

their movement causes a shaft to move, which is attached to a turbine which turns and creates electricity

The Sea Snake – or Pelamis Wave Energy Machine This is a

semi-submerged device which has many hinged joints which move with the water This movement triggers hydraulic motors and these are attached to generators which create electricity It is 120m long and 3.5m wide If lots were moored together it could create a ‘wave farm’

AIR POLLUTION

Write the empirical formula next to each chemical in the list

Discuss the following questions with a partner

1 What are the causes and effects of air pollution?

2 What can be done to reduce air pollution in big cities?

4

READING

Air pollution occurs when the concentrations of certain substances become high enough to cause the atmospheric environment to become toxic Air pollutants can be gaseous, liquid or solid in form, and can come from natural as well as human sources Some examples of natural sources of air pollution include forest fires, pollen, volcanic emissions, and dust Human sources of air pollutants include emissions from industry, agriculture, forestry, transportation, power generation and space heating

Air pollution can threaten the health of human beings, trees, lakes,

crops and animals Abundant amounts of air pollution changes natural

atmospheric processes, causing acid rains, ozone hole and enhancing greenhouse effect Additionally, it causes economic losses

Pollutants are classified either

as primary pollutants - those that enter the atmosphere directly from various sources, or as secondary pollutants - those that are formed when primary pollutants react with each other or with other compounds present in the atmosphere

Industrial or gray smog is considered the most serious type of air pollution Smoke and oxides of that are released by burning coal and oil containing minor amounts of sulfur is the cause The smoke gives the air a gray color Industrial smog has been known to cause air pollution disasters One of the worst occurred in London in December of

1952 Five days of stagnant air brought about high-pressure systems

caused between 3,500 and 4,000 deaths

Another main cause of air pollution is exhaust fumes from cars and other vehicles that run on gasoline or diesel Until a few years ago, lead was added to most gasolines to make car engines run better The lead passes through the engine and out of the exhaust system into the air Lead

is a highly toxic metal and can cause nervous system damage and digestive problems

Road traffic emissions, particularly from diesel vehicles are a major source of

particulate matters

and nitrogen oxides PM10 particles (the fraction of particulate

in air of very small size (<10 µm) are of major current concern,

as they are small enough to penetrate deep into the lungs and so

potentially pose significant health risks Particles are often classed as either primary or secondary pollutants

Sulfur and nitrogen oxides (primary pollutants) from power plants, industry, cars and other sources cause rain, snow and fog to become acidic The most serious damage caused by acid rain today is

acidification of water lakes and rivers In some cases they become so

acidic that they can no longer support fish and their food chains Forest health can also be affected from this in areas where the soils are being acidified

Ozone depletion is another result of air pollution The ozone layer

in the stratosphere protects the earth from harmful ultraviolet radiation from the sun Release of chlorofluorocarbons (CFC's) from aerosol sprays, polystyrene containers, refrigerator coolant and air conditioning units removes some of the ozone, causing "holes"; to open up in this layer and allowing the radiation to reach the Earth

Ozone in the in the upper level occurs naturally and protects life on earth but ozone

at ground level is a

noxious pollutant It is

the major component

of photochemical smog (also known as brown smog) and presents the

most intractable urban

air quality problem Ozone is not emitted directly It is secondary pollutant formed in the

atmosphere through a complex set of chemical reactions involving hydrocarbons, oxides of nitrogen and sunlight The rate at which the reactions proceed is related to both temperature and intensity of the sunlight

The greenhouse effect, also referred to as global warming, is generally believed to come from the build-up of carbon dioxide (CO2) gas in the atmosphere Carbon dioxide is produced when fuels are burned Plants convert carbon dioxide back to oxygen but the release of carbon dioxide from human activities is higher than the world's plants can process The situation is made worse since many of the earth's forests are being removed and plant life is being damaged by acid rain

Finally, air pollution can also occur indoors Common indoor air pollutants include carbon monoxide and nitrogen dioxide from faulty gas heaters and cookers, carbon monoxide and benzene from cigarette

smoke, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from synthetic

furnishings, vinyl flooring and paints In addition, there are biological pollutants such as dust mites and mould

Adequate ventilation is a key to controlling exposure to indoor air

pollution Home and work environments should be monitored for adequate airflow and proper exhaust systems installed

Air pollution generates various economic losses but their detailed estimation is extremely difficult They may be divided into four groups: expenses for air quality protection; expenses generated by the worse health condition of the society; losses of raw materials which become air

pollution; losses caused by the increased corrosion of machines,

buildings, and damage of historical buildings and monuments

The problem of air pollution is worldwide and transcends national

boundaries Though air pollution is still a serious problem, in many countries in the world, steps are being taken to stop the damage to our environment from air pollution Many electric power plants, factories and facilities that burn wastes are equipped with devices called scrubbers Scrubbers remove sulfur dioxide and other pollutants before the wastes are released into the air Also, today's cars are designed to create less pollution Many are equipped with anti-pollution devices called catalytic converters, which reduce the amount of pollution from automobile engines

(Bayanova, 2014)

Task 1: Decide whether the following statements are TRUE or FALSE

1 The most serious effect that air pollution causes is economic losses

2 Primary air pollutants are emitted directly into the air from sources such as industries, cars, etc

3 Human sources of air pollutants are more diverse than natural sources

4 Industrial smog is considered the most serious type of air pollution because it gives the air a gray color

5 Toxic lead in gasoline pollutes the air when vehicles burn gasoline and release exhaust fumes into the air

6 The acidification of water bodies is the most serious damage that acid rain brings about because it endangers the aquatic ecosystem

7 Ozone holes allow ultraviolet light from the sun to reach the earth

8 The greenhouse effect is the result of heat and carbon dioxide released from greenhouses for growing plants

9 Indoor air pollution can be controlled by installing adequate ventilation system in houses and working places

10 Many cars are now fitted with catalytic converters to reduce the damage that exhaust fumes cause to the environment

Task 2: Discuss the following questions in groups

1 According to the text, what are the effects of air pollution? In your opinion, which effect is the most harmful? Explain your answer

2 What are the causes and effects of “The Big Smoke” in London

in 1952?

3 Why is lead added to gasoline? Why isn’t it good for human health?

4 What chemicals can be found in acid rain? Describe the process

of forming acid rain

5 Is ozone at ground level primary or secondary pollutant? How is

b not moving or flowing and often smelling bad

c the gradual destruction of metal by the effect of water, chemicals, etc

d go beyond the usual limits of something

e difficult to deal with or solve

f that changes easily into a gas

g more than enough, plentiful

h the process of becoming acid or being converted into an acid

i the process of letting fresh air into a room, building, etc

j a complex mixture of extremely small particles and liquid droplets which is made up of a number of components, including acids (such as nitrates and sulfates), organic chemicals, metals and soil or dust particles

k enter something and pass or spread through it

l the reduction in the amount of something that is present or available

Task 2: Complete the following passage with the words in the box

deposit poisonous acidic aggravate exposure

infiltrates pollutant continual organism aquatic

What are the effects of air pollution?

Acidification

Chemical reactions involving air pollutants can create acidic compounds which can cause harm to vegetation and buildings Sometimes, when an air (1) , such as sulfuric acid combines with the water droplets that make up clouds, the water droplets become (2) _, forming acid rain When acid rain falls over

an area, it can kill trees and harm animals, fish and other wildlife

Eutrophication

Rain can carry and (5) _the Nitrogen in some pollutants on rivers and soils This will adversely affect the nutrients in the soil and water bodies This can result in algae growth in lakes and water bodies, make conditions for other living (6) _ harmful