Biomedical Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
involvement. Efficient capture of solar energy is the key for sustainable exploitation.
However, solar energy capture cannot interfere with plant biomass growth, for its impact
would be far worse than biomass utilization.
Geothermal energy is most reliable as it is stored deep underneath the earth. It can be
exploited from any point on the earth surface by deep drilling into the rocks. However,
geothermal energy is neither sustainable nor renewable. Just because there is vast amount
of geothermal energy is not the reason for us to exploit. It is a more desperate resource
than anything else on earth.
Further Reading
Adams, W.M., Jeanrenaud, S.J., 2008. Transition to Sustainability: Towards a Humane and Diverse World. Gland,
Switzerland: IUCN.
Blackburn, W.R., 2007. The Sustainability Handbook. London: Earthscan.
Blewitt, J., 2008. Understanding Sustainable Development. London: Earthscan.
Bras, R.L., 1990. Hydrology: An Introduction to Hydrologic Science. Addison-Wesley, Reading, Mass.
Christopherson, R.W., 2005. Geosystems: An Introduction to Physical Geography. 5th ed. Prentice Hall, Upper Saddle
River, New Jersey.
Costanza, R., Graumlich, L.J. Steffen, W. (Eds.), 2007. Sustainability or Collapse? An Integrated History and Future of
People on Earth. Cambridge, MA.: MIT Press.
Davie, T., 2002. Fundamentals of Hydrology. Routledge Publishing.
Klass, D., 1998. Biomass for Renewable Energy, Fuels, and Chemicals. New York, Academic Press.
Norton, B., 2005. Sustainability, a Philosophy of Adaptive Ecosystem Management. Chicago: The University of Chicago
Press.
Smil, V., 2000. Cycles of Life. New York: Scientific American Library.
Soederbaum, P., 2008. Understanding Sustainability Economics. London: Earthscan.
Strahler, Alan H., Arthur Strahler., 2003. Physical Geography: Science and Systems of the Human Environment. 2nd ed.
John Wiley and Sons, New York.
Sumner, G.N., 2000. Precipitation: Process and Analysis. Wiley, New York.
Watson, I., Burnett, A.D., Watson, A.D., 1993. Hydrology: An Environmental Approach. Lewis Publishers.
Wilson, E.O., 2002. The Future of Life. New York: Knopf.
Wright, R., 2004. A Short History of Progress. Toronto: Anansi.
PROBLEMS
15.1. A small mountainous community is relying on the water supply from a glacier lake.
The water is being collected by the lake in the 4 months of summer (125 days) at
arateof1m 3 /s. The average evaporation loss of water from the lake surface is
0.001 m 3 /s. Determine the amount of sustainable water supply the community can
rely on daily.
15.2. Solar energy is the source of renewable energy. Direct utilizing solar energy is therefore
renewable. There is a certain group in the population that is strongly against the use of
biomass: gas emission and particulate emission. It is decided that solar panels are to be
built to cover an existing forest to produce electricity for a nearby city. Briefly describe
(a) If the outcome is sustainable based on sustainability concept.
(b) Is this a favorable decision as compared with the use of forest biomass?
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