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Title
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Finding Carbon Sinks
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Type
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Primary: Field Assignment
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Operation
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Tectonic Fury
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Mission:
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Mission 3: Analyzing the Evidence
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Print Page
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90,91
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Subjects
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Science | Earth and space science | Earth materials | Rocks | Evolution | Geologic time | Personal and social issues | Humans and the environment | Pollution | Science and technology | Science as inquiry | Science process skills | Analyzing data | Collecting data | Communicating | Hypothesizing | Interpreting data | Measuring | Predicting | Scientific habits of mind | Using mathematics | Using technology
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Grades
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5 | 6 | 7 | 8
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Keywords
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Dr. George Guthrie, carbon capture and sequestration, pollution, greenhouse gas, carbon emission, climate change, carbon dioxide, point source, sink, technology, transportation, population density, map, oil field, natural gas field, coal seam, deep saline formation
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Duration
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02:15:00 (HH:MM:SS)
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Audience
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Teachers | Elementary Grades | Junior High
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Created On
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5/7/2010
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Copyright
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Peter Haydock/The JASON Project
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From: Tectonic Fury Mission 3: Analyzing the Evidence (pp: 90,91) |
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Finding Carbon Sinks In this culminating field assignment, students will interpret geologic rock layers to look for potential carbon sequestration sites, or sinks. They will analyze Dr. Guthrie’s data on carbon sources and potential sinks collected during Phase I of his research. Once they are done with the analysis, students will focus on their local region. They will identify the carbon sources that are within or nearest to their community. Then, they will assess the closest potential carbon sequestration sites or sinks, and determine the distance the carbon dioxide would need to be transported. |
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Recall that your mission is to unravel the mysteries of Planet Earth using ancient clues and cutting-edge technologies. Now that you have been fully briefed, it is time to interpret geologic rock layers to look for potential carbon sequestration sites, or sinks.
Dr. Guthrie is trying to determine and implement technology and infrastructure which promotes carbon capture and sequestration in different geologic regions of North America. To do this, Phase I of his research has many objectives, including:
- Identifying CO2 point sources, such as power plants and refineries.
- Evaluating potential geologic sequestration sites, or sinks.
- Assessing the distance and transportation needed to move CO2 from the sources to the potential sinks.
The overall goal of his research is to determine the most effective and safe technologies to capture and transport large amounts of carbon, that would otherwise be emitted into the atmosphere, from source to sink.
In this assignment, you will analyze Dr. Guthrie’s data on carbon sources and potential sinks collected during Phase I of his research. Once you are done with the analysis, you will focus on your local region. You will identify the carbon sources that are within or nearest to your community. Then, you will assess the closest potential carbon sequestration sites or sinks, and determine the distance the CO2 would need to be transported.
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| Materials |
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- computer with Internet access
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| Field Prep |
- Go to the NatCarb site online to obtain the latest CO2 point sources map from NETL, or use the 2008 map in the data sheet to analyze carbon emissions across North America.
- What is the most common CO2 source?
- Describe the distribution of CO2 sources across the map. Which parts of the country contain higher and lower densities of CO2 sources?
- Which states or parts of the country have higher densities of industrial sources, refineries/chemical sources, and ethanol plant sources of CO2?
- Why do you think there is not an even distribution of the CO2 sources across North America?
- Compare and contrast the CO2 sources map to the population density map in the data sheet. Does there appear to be any correlation between the two? If so, explain the correlation.
- Analyze the potential geologic sequestration sink map in the data sheet. Determine which states or parts of the country have the easiest access to each of the following:
- Oil and Natural Gas Fields: Oil and gas reservoirs already have many of the characteristics needed for geologic storage of CO2. The geologic conditions at these locations already trap oil and gas which means they are favorable for CO2 sequestration.
- Unmineable Coal Seams: Coal has varying amounts of pore space within it that is normally filled with methane. These pore spaces could provide an excellent storage site for CO2. By pumping the CO2 into the coal, the methane can be pushed out and recovered to be used as fuel. The CO2 will then take its place in the coal.
- Deep Saline Formations: These layers of rocks are saturated with brine, or salty water. Since these reservoirs already trap and hold large amounts of liquid, they may provide enormous potential for CO2 storage.
- Based on the maps, which sink—oil and natural gas, coal, or deep saline—provides the largest area for potential carbon sequestration?
- Research and explain the geologic events that lead to the development of the oil and natural gas, coal, and deep saline formations that are good sites for carbon sequestration. Share your research with your class.
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| Mission Challenge |
- Analyze the summary chart of state or province CO2 emissions.
- Determine the levels of CO2 emissions per year and number of sources for your state or province. Please note the level of CO2 emissions from your state only includes the point sources, such as power plants and refineries, and does not include non-point sources, such as cars.
- Determine the top three states or provinces based on CO2 emissions per year.
- Use the interactive sources map on the NatCarb website to determine the location of the nearest point sources to your town. Use research tools to try and determine exactly what they are.
- Use the summary chart to determine the amount of potential storage for each source—oil and natural gas, coal, or deep saline—in your state and the top three carbon emitters. Include high and low estimates.
- Use the storage (sink) map and scale to determine the distance from your community or state to the closest sink in each category.
- Document the high and low estimates for total storage resources within your state and the top three emitters from the summary chart.
- Document the top three states, high and low estimates, for total storage resources from the summary chart.
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| Mission Debrief |
- Calculate how many years it would take your state or province to fill the total storage resources within your state based on the low and high estimates of their size and if the CO2 emissions of the point sources stay at the same rate.
- Low estimate: Divide Total Storage Resource Low Estimate by CO2 emissions for your state or province
- High estimate: Divide Total Storage Resource High Estimate by CO2 emissions for your state or province
- Calculate the time it would take to fill the total storage resources of all states and provinces based on the total CO2 emissions of all point sources. Include low and high estimates.
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Journal Question
Dr. Guthrie and his team have focused their research on point sources of carbon, such as power plants and refineries, because the carbon from these facilities can be easily captured and stored. However, non-point sources, such as cars, also emit carbon into the atmosphere every year. Develop some ideas for how we could collect and store carbon from non-point sources and then effectively transport it to a sequestration sink. |
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