Unit 2 Flashcards
How much of the worlds total energy supply is fossil fuels
over 80%
When did the modern human species evolve
around 200,000 years ago
What are the three energy revolutions
Command of fire(Palaeolithic), Rise of agriculture(Neolithic/Holocene), Industrial Revolution(ancient or dead carbon)
When was the command of fire
over 200,000 years ago
when was the rise of agriculture
10,000-12,000 years ago
when was the industrial revolution
around 200 years ago
What did the command of fire bring for humans
Cooking increased brain development, manipulating landscapes enhanced distribution of herbivores, enabled movement to colder climates, enhanced tool making, eventually allowed land clearing for agriculture
What did the rise of agriculture mean for humans
specially concentrating useable energy in plants, drawing upon the labour energy of animals
What does it mean that humans were a solar powered species
humans and animals were the only way to convert energy and that energy came from solar energy absorbed by plants that animals and humans ate. this means our only source of energy was the sun. this was the time of living carbon
What were the first uses of fossil fuels
oil had been known for thousands of years and was used to lubricate axels or water proof roofs
coal was used very minimally in places like china
when was the largest acceleration in population growth
during the era of fossil fuels, specifically between 1900 and 2000 when population grew 4x
when was the largest acceleration in global GDP growth
also during the era of fossil fuels after 1900
when was the coal age and oil age
coal started in 1800 and oil started in 1920
what is the average co2 growth since 1970
2PPM
how much of global warming is carbon responsible for
about 75%
where was the first non rural/agragian society
England in 1800
what were the key commodities at the start of the coal age
sugar and cotton
what were the key innovations in textile manufacturing
mechanical loom and spinning jenny
when was the first stage of the industrial revolution
1760-1840
what happened during the first stage of the industrial revolution
advance of steam engines turning heat into mechanical energy, advance in iron smelting leading to steel manufacturing
what were the main sources of energy in the first stage of the industrial revolution
charcoal, peat, coal
what happened in the second phase of the industrial revolution
expansion of wage labour, factory systems, and division of tasks
explosion of coal
why was coal used over peat or charcoal
much more concentrated source of heat and energy
Why did coal grow so rapidly
coal could fuel pumps which in turn could increase coal production creating a positive feedback
more coal meant more advances in steam and steel which meant even more coal
what was the main source of energy in the US well into the 19th century
wood/biofuels
when was the first successful oil drilling
1859 in titusville pensylvania
what initially contributed to the explosion of oil
in 1870 Rockefeller started standard oil and quickly grew it to a monopoly while dominating the explosion of oil
who and what are the robber barons
Rockefeller oil, Vanderbilt rail and shipping, Cornelius steel, Morgan finance
these four dominated the most powerful manufacturing sectors and had large concentrations of wealth and power by 1890
what happened to standard oil
in 1911 the government declared it a monopoly and broke it into 34 companies
what is the great acceleration
says that while fuel based enegery began in late 18th century the scale and pace of acceleration did not ramp up until the mid 20th century
how did fossil fuels become a fundamental part of every day life
series of transformations such as automobiles, electricity, food consumption etc
how much of the worlds arable land is used for the big 4 crops
about half
when did combustion engine machinery displace animals in farming
late 19th early 20th century
what did monocultures and machinery lead to
increased erosion and an increased need for fertilizer
increased need for pesticides
increased demand for irrigation
increased need for pollination services
what are the main fertilizers
nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium
how much of farming fossil fuel use is related to fertilizers
about 25%
how much of the worlds water use is for aggriculture
about 70%
what did the specialization of landscapes lead to
increased long distance movement of inputs and outputs
rising food waste
increase in food packaging
what percent of agriculture emissions are from livestock
about 80%
what are the big three of meat consumption
poultry, chicken, pigs
how much of the worlds arable land is needed to feed live stock
about 30%
why is energy consumption growing so rapidly
rising per capita use as well as total use(during a period of effieicny increases)
what is oil most used for
transportation, industry, military
what is coal most used for
largest source of electricity globally
what is natural gas most used for
second biggest source of electricity globally
what is the largest source of CO2 emmisions
electricity, mainly sourced by coal
