Fossil Fuels- Impacts Of Energy Production

Question 1

Although fossil fuels supply 87% of the worlds energy, a significant proportion of the population of the world use what as an energy source, normally to provide heat energy in the home.

Answer 1

Wood.

Question 2

What is wood that’s burnt for fuel called?

Answer 2

Fuel wood.

Question 3

What are three ways gathering fuel wood can damage the environment?

Answer 3

Deforestation
Habitat Loss
Soil Erosion

Question 4

Explain how fuel wood gathering can cause deforestation.

Answer 4

Most fuel wood gathering is not regulated so can lead to serious depletion of local woodland.

Question 5

Explain how fuel wood gathering can impact habitat loss.

Answer 5

It can damage or destroy the homes for a range of wildlife like squirrels and birds that best in the trees.

Question 6

Explain how fuel wood gathering can lead to soil erosion.

Answer 6

Tree roots bing the soil together so when the trees are removed, the soil isn’t held together as well and therefore can be washed away by rain or blown away by winds more easily.

Question 7

How much of the worlds energy does fossil fuels supply?

Answer 7

87%

Question 8

Explain the problems that ‘The Copperbelt’ in Zambia has experienced due to wood being used for fuel wood there.

Answer 8

1972-2000 3125 hectares of land cleared for wood annually (huge deforestation). Heavy tropical rains (Nov-Apr) caused dramatic erosion in topsoil- fewer trees securing soil. Land barren and unsuitable for agriculture- prevent woodland re growth.

Question 9

What are two examples of problems that can be caused by the use of fossil fuels to the environment?

Answer 9

Acid Rain

Global Warming

Question 10

Explain how acid rain can be caused by fossil fuels.

Answer 10

Burning fossil fuels releases gases. Some (eg sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides) dissolved in the water vapour in the atmosphere to cause acid rain.

Question 11

List the problems that acid rain can cause to the environment.

Answer 11

• weathering buildings
• cause harmful (toxic) algal bloom
• affects soul pH value that kills veg
• releases aluminium from soul- theory it causes Alzheimer’s
• increases river sediment- kills fish
• can kill trees and other plant life- reduces biodiversity
• reduces nutrient content in soil- some plants grow slower/ not at all
• kill fish and aquatic life- lower biodiversity
• corrode rocks- eg sandstone/ limestone

Question 12

List the potential ways we can manage acid rain.

Answer 12

• use purer coal
• wash coal before burning
• use different f.fuels
• use renewables
• catalytic converters on cars
• use scrubbers- filters on factories
• lime lakes and forests
• government legislation- EU agreed to reduce SO2 levels by 56% from 1988

Question 13

What are two problems for managing acid rain?

Answer 13

• A lot caused in China and NICs- don’t have the money to get batter resources other than coal
• The acid rain normally falls in different place to where the formed- places care less as it’s not effecting them so aren’t as active in tackling problem.

Question 14

List four places where acid rain can be a problem.

Answer 14

East coast
USA
Japan
Scandinavia

Question 15

What is the LARGEST problem created by the use of fossil fuels?

Answer 15

Global warming.

Question 16

Explain how the burning of fossil fuels for energy can lead to global warming.

Answer 16

Burning fossil fuels releases Carbon Dioxide (CO2) to the air. Enhances the plants natural greenhouse effect- increasing world temperature and causing climate change.

Question 17

List three effects that global warming (caused by burning fossil fuels for energy) can have on the environment.

Answer 17

• rising sea levels and increased flooding.
• more frequent and severe extreme weather events like droughts and hurricanes
• habitat loss- leads to biodiversity loss and species extinction

Question 18

The transportation of fossilised can also cause environmental damage. Give an example of one of the types of damage it can cause

Answer 18

Oil spills.

Question 19

Explain a type of damage to the environment the extraction of fossil fuels can cause.

Answer 19

Mining- involves disturbing or removing large areas of land, can lead to;

• habitat loss
• displaced wildlife
• contamination of surface water with acidic/ toxic substances
• reduced air quality- dust and other particles released

Question 20

Explain how oil spills are caused.

Answer 20

When likes, oil wells or tankers that are transporting oil leak, dumping the oil onto land or seas or oceans.

Question 21

The impact of acid rain, global warming, oil spills and mining varies depending on what two things?

Answer 21

The location of the area effected and the severity of the problem.

Question 22

The effects of oil spill last for a long time and can lead to…

Answer 22

The death of wildlife.

Question 23

Explain the reasons that oil spills can cause the death of wildlife.

Answer 23

• reduced the ability of animals to freely move- restricts swimming/ flying
• oil consumption
• hypothermia- feathers/ fur coated in oil- reduces ability of body to control temperature.

Question 24

Explain why it is difficult to accurately calculate how long fossil fuel reserves will last.

Answer 24

As new reserves can be found or more efficient ways of using the reserves may be discovered- will extend the timeframe in which we can depend on them.

Question 25

What are the proven reserves of fossil fuels left, based on 2006 statistics?

Answer 25

• 1000bn barrels oil left- last 40yrs
• 150trl cubic meters natural gas left- 60yrs
• 1000bn tonnes coal left- last 250yrs

AT CURRENT CONSUMPTION RATES.