Reliance On Fossil Fuels Flashcards
Fossil fuel definition
Fuel consisting of the remains of dead organisms preserved in rocks in the Earth’s crust with high carbon and hydrogen content
Renewable energy source definition
A form of energy derived from natural sources that do not use up natural resources to harm the environment
Formation of coal
> Dead plants accumulate
pressure compresses remains into peat
further compression and temperature rise leads to the peat turning into different grades of coal (over hundreds of millions of years)
Formation of crude oil and natural gas
> Remains of sea organisms accumulate on the sea bed
sediment and more remains continue to build up increasing pressure and temperature
further pressure and temperature increase causes crude oil to form in wells with natural gas above the oil (over hundreds of millions of years)
4 primary uses of fossil fuels
> Plastics
Pharmaceuticals
Transport
Fibres
Lifespan of fossil fuels
Coal — 114 yrs
Crude oil — 50 yrs
Natural gas — 50 yrs
High crude oil prices….
Increased longevity of fossil fuels
Low crude oil prices….
Reduced longevity of fossil fuels
IPCC
Intergovernmental panel on climate change
Evidence for climate change:
> more volatile weather
sea temperatures have risen
se levels have risen (75% thermal expansion, 25% polar ice caps melting)
polar ice caps melting
ecological changes (e.g damage to coral reefs off Australia)
increased levels of carbon dioxide
fewer cold weather events (frost events)
increased warm weather events (heatwaves)
Advantages with carbon trading
> environment
control
financial incentive
flexibility
Disadvantages with carbon trading
> complexity of the market
businesses unwilling to participate
size of permits
difficulties with measuring emoissions
