Geography

Troubles with fossil fuels

All fossil fuels are taken from within the Earth (on land and deep under the
ocean). They are transported to other places and burned to release energy.
Each step affects and harms the environment. But the last step is the
worst. It is the number 1 culprit of air pollution because of the harmful
substances that are released while burning it.
Extraction
Finding underground oil, gas and coal deposits takes a vast toll on our land
and ecosystem. For example, the oil companies may have to spoil the
area. Sometimes mountaintops are scrapped and blasted away to reach
underground deposits. The fossil fuel industry rent out vast for
infrastructure such as waste storage.
Transporting
The fossil fuel industry moves oil and gas along pipelines (pipes) or tankers
(ships) to other places for processing. If it leaks out it kills wildlife and may
catch fire.
- Oil spills and leaks during extraction and transport can pollute water
sources and harm organisms in the water bodies.
- Coal mining operations wash acid run off into rivers, streams and
lakes and dump vast quantities of unwanted rock particles into water
bodies making it unsafe for domestic and industrial use.
Burning
When we burn fossil fuels we emit dangerous gases into the
atmosphere.
Examples:
1. Carbon dioxide: It causes global warming.
2. Sulphur dioxide
3. Nitrogen oxides.
- These gases harm our lungs and they mix with rain to form acid rain.
- In fact nitrogen oxides come from the air not oil.
4. Carbon monoxide, which is a poisonous gas.
5. Soot
6. Water vapour
Global warming
What is global warming?
It refers to the gradual increase in the overall temperature of the
Earth’s atmosphere, general attributed to the greenhouse gases.
What is a greenhouse gas?
It is any gas which traps heat. Example: carbon dioxide, methane
etc.