Energy Sources and the Environment Flashcards
Name the 3 fossil fuels?
Coal.
Oil.
Gas.
What happens when fossil fuels are burnt?
They release carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.
What fossil fuel releases the most carbon dioxide?
Coal.
Then oil.
Then gas.
The increased level of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere does what?
Adds to the greenhouse effect and contributes to global warming.
What negative thing happens when you burn coal and oil?
Releases sulfur dioxide which causes acid rain.
Name one way in which acid rain can be reduced?
Take out the sulfur before the fuel is burned or clean up the emissions.
Name a negative about coal mining?
It makes a mess of the landscape.
Especially ‘open-cast mining’.
Name a negative about nuclear power?
Nuclear waste is very dangerous and difficult to dispose.
What is the cost of nuclear fuel like?
Its relatively cheap but the overall cost of nuclear power is high due to costs of the power plant and final decommissioning.
Give an example of a negative event involving nuclear power?
Carries the risk of major catastrophe like Chernobyl disaster in 1986.
What are biofuels?
Relatively quick and ‘natural’ source of energy and supposedly carbon neutral.
What is happening in some regions to make way for biofuels?
Large areas of forests have been cleared to make room to grow biofuels.
Resulting in lots of species losing their natural habitats.
The decay and burning of this vegetation increases carbon dioxide and methane emissions.
What is used to reduce the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere?
Carbon capture and storage.
What is carbon capture and storage?
it is used to reduce the amount of carbon dioxide building up in the atmosphere and reduce the strength of the greenhouse effect.
How does CCS work?
By collecting carbon dioxide from power stations before it is released into the atmosphere.
The captured carbon dioxide can be pumped into empty gas fields and oil fields like those under the north sea. Safely stored without adding to the green house effect.
