What are fossil fuels?
Fossil fuels are natural substances formed over millions of years from the fossils of once living organisms and plants. They fossils are exposed to heat and pressure underground, which changes them on a chemical level, eventually turning into substances such as coal, oil and natural gas. Fossil fuels are created by a natural process, but are nonrenewable because that process takes millions of years, and they are being used up faster than they are being created. Fossil fuels are the world's primary energy source, and make up an estimated 86.4% of global energy production (2007). Fossil fuels can be found all over the world. Large amounts of coal is present in Russia, the USA, and China, and most of the world's oil and gas is located in the middle east. Fossil fuels are used for the generation of electricity, too power cars and other vehicles, and to make plastics, lubricants and synthetic fabrics. Because of all of the things fossil fuels can be used for, they fueled economic growth since it was discovered what could be achieved with them. But, the use of fossil fuels has serious impacts to the environment. For example, the CO2 released when fossil fuels are burned contributes and accelerates global warming. I will be talking about positives and negatives of fossil fuels in detail on the next page.
Types of fossil fuels
Coal
Coal is a type of rock, which is made of carbon, oxygen, sulfur and nitrogen. Coal is formed from plants that lived millions of years ago. Over time, the plants get covered by layers of sediment, and the plant matter is put under a lot of pressure and heat, and it slowly metamorphosizes into coal. This process can take millions of years. Coal is relied on heavily by humans, mainly for electricity generation. Around 41% of the world's electricity is produced by coal, and the use of coal is increasing every year. In fact, since 2001, coal has been the fastest growing energy source. In 2006, 6 billion tonnes of coal was used. There are two common ways that coal is mined. One method is surface mining, which is used when coal is relatively close to the surface. This method consists of a large pit being dug, the soil being taken away, and then the exposed coal being dug up. These open cast mines can be several kilometers across and more than one kilometer deep.
Coal is a type of rock, which is made of carbon, oxygen, sulfur and nitrogen. Coal is formed from plants that lived millions of years ago. Over time, the plants get covered by layers of sediment, and the plant matter is put under a lot of pressure and heat, and it slowly metamorphosizes into coal. This process can take millions of years. Coal is relied on heavily by humans, mainly for electricity generation. Around 41% of the world's electricity is produced by coal, and the use of coal is increasing every year. In fact, since 2001, coal has been the fastest growing energy source. In 2006, 6 billion tonnes of coal was used. There are two common ways that coal is mined. One method is surface mining, which is used when coal is relatively close to the surface. This method consists of a large pit being dug, the soil being taken away, and then the exposed coal being dug up. These open cast mines can be several kilometers across and more than one kilometer deep.
Crude oil (petroleum)
Crude oil is a black or brown liquid consisting of hydrogen and carbon. It is formed when dead organisms are buried, and heat and pressure is applied. Petroleum is usually collected from the ground through drilling. The crude oil can then be refined and made into petrol,chemicals which can be used to make plastic, medicines, and asphalt, which is used for making roads. An estimated 90 million barrels of oil are used everyday. Crude oil is not spread out evenly across the globe, and is mainly found in the middle east and north America. As all fossil fuels, there is a limited supply of crude oil and once it is all used up it will be gone forever. According to Gilbert Masters in 2008, who is a Stanford Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering, the world oil supply would last for 41 more years.
Crude oil is a black or brown liquid consisting of hydrogen and carbon. It is formed when dead organisms are buried, and heat and pressure is applied. Petroleum is usually collected from the ground through drilling. The crude oil can then be refined and made into petrol,chemicals which can be used to make plastic, medicines, and asphalt, which is used for making roads. An estimated 90 million barrels of oil are used everyday. Crude oil is not spread out evenly across the globe, and is mainly found in the middle east and north America. As all fossil fuels, there is a limited supply of crude oil and once it is all used up it will be gone forever. According to Gilbert Masters in 2008, who is a Stanford Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering, the world oil supply would last for 41 more years.
Natural Gas
Natural gas is a gas mainly comprised out of methane. It is formed from the remains of plants and animals, and the energy that the plants got from the sun is stored in the gas. Natural gas is found underground in rock formations, or coal seams which are layers where coal is located. Since 1825 when the natural gas was first extracted on a large scale and 2009, an estimated 66 trillion cubic meters has been extracted. At the current rate that natural gas is being used, then the current known supply of natural gas will run out in about 250 years. This doesn't sound so bad, but an increase of consumption by 2-3% would lower that to 80-100 years. Natural gas was first used by the chinese sometime between the years of 1000BC and 500BC. They used it to boil salt water, to remove the salt from it. Natural gas can be used for generating electricity, heating and cooking.
Natural gas is a gas mainly comprised out of methane. It is formed from the remains of plants and animals, and the energy that the plants got from the sun is stored in the gas. Natural gas is found underground in rock formations, or coal seams which are layers where coal is located. Since 1825 when the natural gas was first extracted on a large scale and 2009, an estimated 66 trillion cubic meters has been extracted. At the current rate that natural gas is being used, then the current known supply of natural gas will run out in about 250 years. This doesn't sound so bad, but an increase of consumption by 2-3% would lower that to 80-100 years. Natural gas was first used by the chinese sometime between the years of 1000BC and 500BC. They used it to boil salt water, to remove the salt from it. Natural gas can be used for generating electricity, heating and cooking.