Fossil Fuels Chapter 11. Energy Consumption Per capita energy consumption.
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Transcript of Fossil Fuels Chapter 11. Energy Consumption Per capita energy consumption.
Coal
Types of Coal:
• Lignite (lowest quality)
• Subbituminous coal
• Bituminous coal
• Anthracite (highest quality)
Coal
Environmental Impacts of the Mining Process:
• Prior to 1977, most surface mines were abandoned.
• Leading to water pollution and acid mine drainage.
• Current law requires all surface mines to be reclaimed.
Coal
Environmental Impacts of Burning Coal:
• Increases CO2 concentration in atmosphere
• Lower quality coals release sulfur and nitrogen dioxides, causing acid
deposition
Oil and Natural Gas
Global Oil Demand and Supply
North America & Western Europe
Consumption Production
Persian Gulf region
50.6% 28.9%
5.9% 26.7%
Oil and Natural Gas
Environmental Impacts of Oil and Natural Gas
• Production – Land disturbance
• Transport – Oil spills
• Combustion –– Pollution
– Increased CO2 emissions
– Acid deposition
Synfuels and Other Potential Fossil Fuel Resources
Synthetic fuel sources:
• Tar sands (oil sands)
• Oil shales
• Gas hydrates
• Coal liquefaction
• Coal gasification
Problem: these all still produce CO2