Chapter 19: Fossil Fuels, Their Impacts, and Energy Conservation

1. Why are fossil fuels our most prevalent source of energy today? Why are they considered nonrenewable sources of energy? Fossil fuels are our most prevalent source of energy today because they are both cheep and easy to find. Also, they are easy to transport and can be sued for many different applications. They are considered nonrenewable because they were created million of years ago and were a one-time event. No new fossil fuels are being crated. (543) 2. How are fossil fuels formed? How do environmental conditions determine what type of fossil fuel is formed in a given location? Why are fossil fuels often concentrated in localized deposits? Fossil fuels are formed when organic matter decomposes in an anoxic environment. If the organic matter is phytoplankton, the fossil fuels formed could be oil or natural gas, depending on the temperature and pressure at which it is buried. Coal was formed when woody plant material decomposed. Fossil fuels are often concentrated in localized deposits because many very specific environmental factors must have come together in a specific way to form them. (544-545) 3. Describe how net energy differs from energy returned on investment (EORI). Why are these concepts important when evaluating energy sources? Net Energy = Energy Returned Energy Invested eegrt re nrye nd u EROI = eegi vse nry etd n A high positive number for net energy gives a more economical and efficient sources. When looking at EROI, a number greater than one is needed for an investment to be worthwhile. The greater the EROI, the better the investment and source. (546) 4. Describe how coal is used to generate energy? Coal is used to generate electricity in a coal burning power plant. Here cola is pulverized into a powder and burned. The heat us used to boil water into a high-pressure steam. This is then used to turn a turbine, which turns a generator that uses magnets and copper wire to make electricity. (548549) 5. Why is natural gas often extracted simultaneously with other fossil fuels? What constraints on its extraction does it share with oil? Natural gas is made of the same sources as other fossil fuels, but is has been heated so much that all the carbon-carbon bond have been broken and only methane molecules remain. Once the pressure in an oil/natural gas well drops; the extraction become much more difficult. (550-1, 553)

6. How have geologists estimated the total amount of oil beneath the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) 1002 Area? How is this amount different from the technically recoverable and economically recoverable amounts of oil? Geologists drill rock cores, and conduct ground, air, and seismic surveys to determine how much oil is available in any one area. Some oil is in areas where it will not be able to be removed, thus the total amount is larger than the amount that is technically recoverable. Economically recoverable oil is only the oil that is able to be extracted using techniques that allow the total costs to the economically competitive. They are even less than the technically recoverable resource. (552) 7. How do we create petroleum products? Provide examples of several of these products. Petroleum products are made by refining crude oil and separating the component hydrocarbons. These hydrocarbons are then used as the starting material for products such as plastics and pharmaceuticals. (553554) 8. What is Hubberts peak? Why do many experts think we are about to pass the global production peak for oil? What consequences could there be for our society if we do not transition soon to renewable energy sources? Hubberts peak is a term for peak production in US oil. M. King Hubbert was an oil geologist who correctly predicted the peak in US oil production to be in the early 1970s. After this was showed to be true, he went to predict that the global oil supply would peak in the 1990s. While it did not peak during that time, some say it has peaked. Many experts think we are about to pass the global production peak for oil due to recent data and research. Since so much of our society relies on oil for many daily activities such as transportation, food, and many products, there will be many dire consequences if we do not transition soon to renewable energy sources. First the prices of products made from fossil fuels would increase to a point of causing increased social problems. (554-557) 9. List three environmental impacts of fossil fuels production and consumption. Compare some of the contrasting views of scientists regarding the environmental impacts of drilling for oil in ANWR. Some environmental impacts of fossil fuel production are increasing the amount of greenhouse gases in our atmosphere, other pollution in our atmospheres and causing acid rain and smog. In addition there are risks of oil spills and the consequences of coal mining such as ground water pollution and the disruption of natural ecosystems. While some scientists believe that drilling in ANWR will disrupt the natural environment by affecting air and water quality and fragmenting natural habitats with roads, others disagree. They believe that the drilling would occur in the winter when most of wildlife is further south and newer technology would be more environmentally friendly than that currently used in Alaska. (559-562)

10. Describe two main approaches to energy conservation and give a specific example of each. Two main approaches to energy conservation are personal choice and increased efficiency. An example of choice is when people choose to use less electricity and fossil fuels by turning off lights and appliances and driving less. In addition, increased efficiency such as increased mpg in cars, more efficient appliances, and more efficient electricity production. (565-567)