Fossil Fuels.docx

**Fossil Fuels** **Fossil fuels** -- fuels formed by natural processes such as anaerobic decomposition of buried dead organisms. Fossil fuels contain high percentages of carbon and include *coal, petroleum,* and *natural gas* **Coal** -- a combustible black or brownish-black sedimentary rock usual...

**Fossil Fuels** **Fossil fuels** -- fuels formed by natural processes such as anaerobic decomposition of buried dead organisms. Fossil fuels contain high percentages of carbon and include *coal, petroleum,* and *natural gas* **Coal** -- a combustible black or brownish-black sedimentary rock usually occurring in rock strata in layers or veins called coal beds or coal seams **Coalification** -- formation of coal from plant material by the process of **diagenesis** and **metamorphism**. Also known as **bituminization** or **carbonification** **Types of Coal** 1. **Peat** -- the precursor of coal. Formed from decaying vegetation 2. **Lignite** -- formed from compressed peat and is referred to as "brown coal" 3. **Bituminous / Sub Bituminous coal** -- made of compressed lignite 4. **Steam coal** -- stepping stone between bituminous coal and anthracite 5. **Anthracite** -- the highest rank of ignitable coal. It is a hard, black, glossy, and natural smokeless fuel 6. **Graphite** -- technically the highest-ranking coal, difficult to ignite and rarely used as fuel **Petroleum** **Source rock** -- mud that contains at least 1-2% organic matter which eventually produces oil and gas deposits ***If the organic debris is mostly of animal origin, it will produce more oil than gas*** ***If the organic debris is mostly of plant origin, it will produce more gas than oil*** **Migration** -- slow constant movement of gas and oil away from the source rock **Reservoir rock** -- where the hydrocarbon deposit can only be formed **Structural trap** -- formed by changes in geological layers caused by the movement of tectonic plates **Stratigraphic trap** -- made up of sedimentary layers that have not yet undergone tectonic deformation **Geothermal Energy** Geothermal energy -- thermal energy generated and stored in the Earth **Types of geothermal power plant** 1. **Dry Steam** -- steam is produced directly from the geothermal reservoir to run the turbines that power the generator 2. **Flash Steam** -- geothermally heated water under pressure is separated in a separate vessel (called steam separator) into steam and hot water. The steam is delivered to the turbine, and the turbine powers the generator 3. **Binary Cycle** -- the geothermal water heats another liquid, such as isobutene, or other organic fluids such as pentafluoropropane, which boils at a lower temperature. The two liquids are kept completely separate through the use of a heat exchanger, which transfers the heat energy from geothermal water to the working liquid 4. **Flash/Binary Combined Cycle** -- the portion of the geothermal water that "flashes" to steam under reduced pressure is first converted to electricity with a backpressure steam turbine, and the low-pressure steam exiting the backpressure turbine is condensed in a binary system. **Advantages** 1. Does not produce pollution 2. Does not contribute to the greenhouse effect 3. The power stations do not take up too much room 4. Involves low running cost since no fuel is used to generate power 5. Low dependence on fossil fuels **Disadvantages** 1. There are not many places where you can build a geothermal power plant due to the need for a volcano 2. Sometimes a geothermal site may "run out of steam" 3. Hazardous gases and minerals may come up from underground 4. Requires huge one-time investment **Hydroelectric Energy** Hydroelectric Energy -- kinetic energy gained from water in a water reservoir by falling under gravity **Types of Hydroelectric power plant** 1. **Water Reservoir dam** -- water accumulates in reservoirs by the use of dams 2. **Run of the river system** -- hydroelectric systems that harvest the energy from flowing water in the absence of a large dam and reservoir 3. **Pumped Storage Hydroelectric System** -- hydroelectric systems that use two water reservoirs to transfer water from a lower elevation to a higher elevation and vice versa **Advantages** 1. No pollution and use of resources 2. Safety. No drilling of the earth crust is needed which may cause tectonic movements 3. High Efficiency (90%) 4. Quiet Operation. Turbines are located down under therefore no noise is generated 5. Long life and minimal maintenance **Disadvantages** 1. High initial costs 2. Need to flood a big dam 3. Big impact to the environment. Need to vacate a big area to create a dam 4. Possible loss of habitat for some species **Kalayaan Pumped Storage Hydroelectric Project** -- Largest hydroelectric power plant in the Philippines **La Grande Complex** -- Largest Hydroelectric power plant in the world found in Canada (Output: 16GW) **Three Gorges Dam** -- Largest dam in the world found in China **Human Activity and the Environment** 1. Oil/Petroleum -- Non-renewable, Refining, and consumption produces air, water, and solid waste pollutants 2. Natural Gas -- Non-renewable, Produces fewer pollutants than Oil and Coal, and less CO~2~ 3. Coal -- Non-renewable, Produces CO~2~ and other air, water and solid pollutants 4. Biomass -- wood and organic waste including societal waste, Renewable, Low energy output 5. Hydroelectric -- Renewable, Clean resource with high efficiency, loss of habitat, and alteration of stream flows 6. Solar Power -- Renewable, unlimited resource that is clean, efficient, and safe, uses large land mass 7. Geothermal -- Renewable, Consumption is localized, disrupts natural geyser activity 8. Wind Power -- Renewable, unlimited, and a very clean process, needs lots of land 9. Nuclear Fission -- Non-renewable, uses Uranium, produces radioactive waste 10. Nuclear Fusion -- Non-renewable, uses Tritium, possibility of high-water pollution due to tritium **Priority Solutions** 1. Curbing Global Warming 2. Creating a Clean Energy Future 3. Reviving the World's oceans 4. Defending Endangered Wildlife and Wild places 5. Protecting our health by preventing pollution 6. Ensuring safe and sufficient water 7. Fostering sustainable communities **Water Resources** **Water distribution**: 97.5% Saltwater, 2.5% Freshwater (68.7% icecaps/glaciers, 30.1% groundwater, 0.3% surface water, 0.8% others) Water is available in the air, surface, underground, and in the oceans 10% of the Earth's freshwater can be found in the atmosphere **Water cycle** The global mechanism by which water moves from the air to the Earth (precipitation) and eventually back to the atmosphere (evaporation). **Principal natural components** Precipitation Infiltration into the soil Runoff on the surface Groundwater discharge to surface waters and oceans Evapotranspiration from warm bodies, soil, and plants **Groundwater** Supply of fresh water found under Earth's surface\--recharged when water at the surface infiltrates into the ground Stored in underground aquifers Discharged into rivers, springs, etc... **Infiltration** - a process of water percolating through the soil and into cracks and permeable rocks. **Zone of Aeration** - upper soil layers that hold both air and water. **Zone of Saturation** - lower soil layers where all spaces are filled with water. **Water Table** - top of zone of saturation **Recharge Zone** - an area where water infiltrates into an aquifer.\ -Recharge rate is often very slow.\ -Presently, groundwater is being removed faster than it can be replenished. **Aquifers** - Porous layers of sand, gravel, or rock lying below the water table. **Ways to conserve and protect water resources** 1. Use less water 2. Keep harmful substances out of the water 3. Drive less 4. Keep pipes and appliances in good condition 5. Use water-efficient appliances 6. Use water efficiently outdoors **Soil Resources** **Factors affecting the quality and quantity of soil** 1. **Agricultural depletion** -- farming can degrade the topsoil and lead to an increase in erosion 2. **Overgrazing animals** -- grazing animals can remove large amounts of the plant cover for an area 3. **Deforestation** -- logging kills plants that put down roots that help hold the soil together 4. **Mining** -- these operations leave a large amount of loose soil that can aggravate the erosion process 5. **Development and Expansion** -- can also aggravate erosion, especially, if the developers ignore the natural state of the land 6. **Recreational Activities** -- erosion aggravates on hiking and off-road vehicle tracks **Waste Generation and Management** ***Solid, Liquid, and Gaseous waste*** -- by-products resulting from human biological processes, manufacturing, or any other human activity ***Leachate*** -- any liquid that in the course of passing through matter, extracts soluble or any component of the material through which it passed ***Siltation*** -- a process by which water becomes dirty as a result of fine mineral particles in the water **Other sources of waste and their environmental impact** 1. **Industrial waste** - 2. **Agricultural waste** - Excess use of fertilizers and pesticides can cause land and water pollution. - Rice paddies release methane to the atmosphere. - Excess excrement from poultry and other livestock can cause eutrophication of bodies of water 3. **Mining waste** - Waste generated from the exploitation of mineral resources - - 4. **Biomedical waste** - - **Reducing waste at home, school, and around the community** **Republic Act 9003** -- Ecological Solid Waste Management of 2000. An act providing for an ecological solid waste management program, creating the necessary institutional mechanisms and incentives, declaring certain acts prohibited and providing penalties, appropriating funds therefore, and for other purposes.