Each year streams erode about 14 cubic kilometers of sediment. ...

[NguyenJ]

Each year streams erode about 14 cubic kilometers of sediment. This amount could fill a train of railroad cars that would encircle Earth's equator 34 times. If this amount of sediment was spread over your home state, how thick would it be?
 
  What will be an ideal response?

Question 2

Plans are underway to remove an old coal-fired power plant and build a modern WTE facility in its location that will generate the same amount of electricity.
 
  The coal was transported to the power plant by train, but the MSW will be trucked in to the WTE facility. People in the region are concerned about a waste incinerator near their city. Which one of the following concerns regarding WTE facilities is correct? A) Unlike the coal-fired power plant, the WTE facility will be releasing mercury into the air.
  B) Unlike the coal-fired power plant, the WTE facility will be releasing carbon dioxide into the air.
  C) Unlike the coal-fired power plant, the WTE facility will release more pollution than the coal-fired power plant.
  D) Unlike the coal-fired power plant, the WTE facility will result in more traffic on the roads.

[sabina576]

Answer to Question 1

amount of sediment was spread over your home state, how thick would it be?
This question requires the student to find out the surface area of their home state in square kilometers and to divide 14 cubic kilometers by that area value. For example, Ohio has an area of 2147.5 square kilometers (44,828 square miles), so the global sediment delivery would be sufficient to cover the state of Ohio with by a blanket of sediment 6.5 meters thick.

Answer to Question 2

D