Physics 162 Fourth Homework Assignment

  1. Research and report on the Pacific Northwest Climate Index (the PNI) and how variations in that index seem to strongly correlate with the abundance of salmon in the Columbia river system.

  2. The American Wind Energy Association maintains up to date web information on current and future planned wind energy usage in each individual state in the US. Research and report on the top 3 Wind producing states in the United States - how much electricity is currently generated and how many individual wind farms are there? What is the cost of this electricity to the consumer? What are the future plans for expanding wind capacity in Washington and Oregon?

  3. Research and report on the Geothermal capacity of the Pacific Northwest (Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Montana). Identify any current or planned projects that are underway. Also, research the performance of the Geysers project Geothermal plant in California and explain why it is losing capacity over time.

  4. Research and report on the total power requirements in the Pacific Northwest (in units of MegaWatts). How much of that power is currently in the form of hydroelectricity. Given what you found for questions 2 and 3, do you think its feasible to remove these dams and replace that power with either wind or geothermal?