Environmental Impacts of Fossil Fuels
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Questions and Answers

What is one significant environmental impact of coal extraction?

  • It enhances landscape aesthetics.
  • It contributes to air quality improvement.
  • It reduces greenhouse gas emissions.
  • It can cause acid mine drainage. (correct)

    • Which phase of fossil fuel use has the greatest effect on landscape alteration?

  • Transportation phase
  • Processing phase
  • Extraction phase (correct)
  • Burning phase

    • What is a major consequence of coal washing?

  • Decrease in air pollution.
  • Reduction in coal quality.
  • High water consumption. (correct)
  • Increase in water purity.

    • How does the transportation of oil impact the environment?

    <p>It contributes significantly to CO2 emissions.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is one of the environmental concerns associated with oil drilling?

    <p>It can affect the marine environment during leaks.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What type of environmental degradation is a result of coal strip mining?

    <p>Severe alteration of the landscape.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which fossil fuel phase contributes exhaust gases to the atmosphere?

    <p>Burning phase</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following best describes the impact of coal mining fires?

    <p>They can burn for decades, releasing CO2.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What major environmental issue is caused by the burning of coal?

    <p>Air pollution</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is a risk associated with coal waste?

    <p>Release of toxic heavy metals</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a consequence of acid mine drainage?

    <p>Increase in water acidity</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What type of pollution results from the cooling process at water plants?

    <p>Thermal pollution</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was the impact of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill on marine life?

    <p>Severe consequences and long-term damage</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How long can underground coal fires burn?

    <p>Several years to decades</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which chemical compound is often released into the environment from coal emissions?

    <p>Carbon dioxide</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is yellowboy in the context of acid mine drainage?

    <p>A substance formed from iron precipitation</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary method used to extract oil from shale rock?

    <p>Crushing and heating the rock</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a major environmental concern associated with unconventional gas extraction through hydraulic fracturing?

    <p>Pollution of groundwater by extraction chemicals</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the main component of tar sands that makes it difficult to extract oil?

    <p>Bitumen</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of these statements accurately reflects the process used for extracting oil from tar sands?

    <p>Steam, hot water, or chemicals are used for extraction</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a significant impact of oil spills on the environment?

    <p>Oil floats on the surface of the water</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What role does methane play in the process of hydraulic fracturing?

    <p>Methane can leak into groundwater if not contained</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How does the extraction of shale oil primarily differ from conventional oil extraction?

    <p>Shale oil involves heating the rock</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a common transportation method for fossil fuels, specifically oil?

    <p>Oil tankers and pipelines</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is one of the effects of heavier oil (crude oil) on marine life during spills?

    <p>Lower toxicity compared to gasoline</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a characteristic of oil that contributes to the smothering of animal life?

    <p>It is sticky and can coat feathers</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How many tonnes of oil have been spilled in the ocean over the last 50 years?

    <p>4.5 million tonnes</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What safety feature is required for improved oil tankers to reduce spills?

    <p>Double-hulled construction</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is NOT listed as a consequence of burning coal and oil?

    <p>Enhanced biodiversity</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What tragic event happened at the Texas City Refinery in 2005?

    <p>Explosions resulting in fatalities</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What environmental issue can arise from thermal pollution in water bodies?

    <p>Higher water temperatures leading to less dissolved oxygen</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which oil spill is considered to be the largest during the Iraq war?

    <p>First Gulf war oil spill</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Study Notes

    Environmental Impacts of Fossil Fuels

    • Environmental impacts of extracting, transporting, processing, and burning fossil fuels contribute to environmental degradation across multiple phases:

      • Extraction:

        • Coal strip mining can alter landscapes, create mine tailings, and generate dust.
        • Coal mines can spontaneously combust, releasing significant amounts of CO2 and pollution.
        • Oil extraction can impact marine ecosystems, and flaring gas from oil platforms contributes to CO2 emissions and air pollution.

      • Transportation:

        • Oil transportation by sea and land contributes to CO2 emissions and air pollution.
        • Oil spills pose a significant threat to marine life and ecosystems.

      • Processing:

        • Coal washing is water-intensive, consuming large amounts of water and generating runoff containing coal impurities.
        • Oil refineries release toxic gases, greenhouse gases, and wastewater, contributing to air pollution, climate change, and water pollution.

      • Burning:

        • Coal burning produces air pollutants (SOx, NOx, heavy metals) and contributes to climate change through high CO2 emissions.
        • Power plant cooling systems release heated water, leading to thermal pollution in rivers, lakes, and oceans.
        • Coal and coal waste products release toxic chemicals, including heavy metals, which pose environmental hazards.

    Coal Industry Impacts

    • Coal industry has a significant environmental footprint:

      • Strip mining: Severely alters landscapes, reducing the value of natural environments.
      • Coal washing: Uses large amounts of water, consuming approximately 45 m3 liters of water per ton of coal processed.
      • Coal burning: Contributes to air pollution, climate change, thermal pollution, and releases coal waste containing toxic heavy metals.

    Acid Mine Drainage

    • Runoff from certain mines can cause local increases in acidity:

      • Leads to the formation of "Yellowboy" and sulfuric acid.
      • Iron can precipitate to form red, orange, or yellow sediments on streambeds.

    Oil Extraction and Spills

    • Conventional oil and gas extraction:

      • The Deepwater Horizon oil spill in 2010 released 5 million barrels of oil into the Gulf of Mexico, causing significant environmental damage.
      • The largest oil spill in history, it cost over 65 billion dollars in fines.

    • Unconventional oil extraction:

      • Shale oil: Extracted by crushing and heating kerogen-containing rock, leading to environmental impacts like landscape alteration, high energy consumption, and CO2 emissions.
      • Tar sand: Oil extraction using steam and chemicals leads to landscape alteration, energy-intensive processes, and environmental pollution.

    Unconventional Gas Extraction (Fracking)

    • Fracking raises environmental concerns:

      • Pollution of groundwater by extraction chemicals.
      • Large volumes of wastewater generated, with potential for contamination.
      • Release of methane into surrounding geology, potentially leaking into groundwater.
      • Using high-pressure water, sand, and chemical additives for extraction poses environmental risks.

    Oil Transportation

    • Oil shipping: Oil is transported globally via tankers and pipelines, posing risks of accidents and spills.
    • Oil spills: Oil spills can have catastrophic consequences for marine life and environments.
      • Lighter oils are toxic and volatile, while heavier oils are less toxic but persistent and harmful.
      • Oil spills can smother marine life, disrupt marine ecosystems, and prevent sunlight penetration in water bodies.

    Oil Spill Hotspots

    • Over 4.5 million tonnes of oil have been spilled into the ocean in the past 50 years.
    • Significant oil spills include the Deepwater Horizon, Exxon Valdez, and the First Gulf War oil spill.
    • Despite efforts to reduce spills, accidents continue to occur.

    Refineries

    • Oil refineries are polluting industries:

      • Air pollution from toxic gases and volatile organic compounds.
      • Greenhouse gas emissions contributing to climate change.
      • Wastewater generation from production and cleaning processes.
      • Risk of explosions and fires due to volatile chemicals and gases.

    Environmental Impacts from Burning Coal and Oil

    • Burning fossil fuels leads to environmental consequences:

      • Air pollution, contributing to respiratory illnesses and other health problems.
      • Climate change, driven by greenhouse gas emissions.
      • Acid rain, damaging ecosystems and infrastructure.
      • Thermal pollution from power plant cooling systems.

    Thermal Pollution

    • Power plant cooling systems release warmed water, leading to thermal pollution in aquatic environments:

      • Warmer water holds less dissolved oxygen, leading to low oxygen conditions and harming aquatic life.

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    Lecture 12: Fossil Fuels - Environmental Impacts PDF

    Description

    This quiz explores the various environmental impacts associated with the extraction, transportation, processing, and burning of fossil fuels. It covers topics such as the effects of coal strip mining, oil spills, and the emissions from oil refineries. Test your knowledge on how these activities contribute to environmental degradation.

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