Env. Science.

What are the sectors of energy use?

What are the sectors of energy use?

Industrial, Residential, Commercial, Transportation.

How much energy does each sector consume?

Industrial 33% \n Residential 20% \n Commercial 20% \n Transportation 26%

Of all the energy we consume (demand), most of the energy comes from burning fossil fuels. What are the three main types of fossil fuels?

Petroleum, Natural gas, Coal

How much energy (in percent) does each fossil fuel provide to our needs?

Petroleum: 37% \n Natural gas: 32% \n Coal: 11%

What are the general characteristics of fossil fuels?

(Oil heat, non-living organisms contain carbon + hydrogen) -Nonrenewable energy -Carbon based, formed from the decomposing plants/ animals

• Millions of years under lots of pressure/ heat

• When burned (combustion) C02, heat and water vapor are produced (among other gasses)

List the three examples of fossil fuels and describe characteristics of each.

Natural gas: 32% of our energy source, can be used like other fuels, gas consisting of mainly methane CH4. Found alone in coal mines/ oil deposits, most efficient energy source and burns cleanest, produces less C02. \n \n Coal: 11% of our energy source, burned to generate electricity, strip mining (layers for coal) underground mining (tunnels) Cheap, widespread, abundant. Lasts 115 yrs/ 472 bil tons reserved. Environmentally costly, toxic drainage runoff, burning it releases air pollution. Mining is dangerous. \n \n Oil (Petroleum): 37% of our energy source, forms pools under Earth's surface, made up of chains of carbon and hydrogen bonded together. Hydrocarbon chains, lipids) Crude oil is separated into diff components, boiling. US top producer.

What type of fossil fuel releases the most pollution when burned? Which releases the least?

Coal releases the most pollution when burned (Air) whereas Natural gas releases the least amount of pollution.

What is ANWR? What are some concerns associated with drilling for oil in ANWR? What are some potential benefits?

ANWR is the Arctic Wildlife Refuge. The concerns for drilling is the effects on the environment/ wildlife. (Porcupine Caribou, Muskoxen, Polar bears) ANWR being the only national conservation area where polar bears den. In addition with drilling, Native Alaskans may have negative impacts on their food supply and land. \n \n The potential benefits are: 1002 area was purposely set aside to be studied further due to Oil prospects. Could help boost the economy with new jobs and more business. Decrease dependence on foreign oil, lowering prices.

Describe the greenhouse effect

Some sunlight that hits the earth is reflected, some becomes heat. C02 and other gasses in the atmosphere trap heat, keeping the earth warm. Solar energy emitted in form of UV, visible light and infrared radiation. Ozone layer in the upper atmosphere absorbs/ scatters much of UV and infrared radiation. Visible light passes through to the lower atmosphere and reaches earth.

List and describe some of the greenhouse gasses and their sources (where they come from).

Water: Naturally occurs in the atmosphere. Source: water systems, living organisms, combustion reaction ---> human activ. \n \n Methane CH4: Main component of natural gas, released by ruminant animals, and herbivores. Source: Rice paddies, coal mines, landfills, etc. \n \n Nitrous Oxide (Nitrogen cycle): Largely increased due to human activity but it's naturally occurring. Emissions due to break down of fertilizers/ factories making them. Waste management, combustion of fossil fuels, laughing gas. \n \n CFC (Chlorofluorocarbons): Not naturally occurring, used in refrigerants, aerosols, solvents. Banned at Montreal Protocol (1987) Ozone destroying properties. \n \n Ozone: Good high up, bad nearby. Low in the atmos (troposphere) it absorbs in. frared heat, as the ozone layer. Way up high (stratosphere) ----> Good. Protects us from harmful UV radiation.

List some of the facts associated with climate change.

A long term change caused by human activity, fluctuating CO2 levels and temperatures, weather is getting hotter/ colder, ice is melting and animals are struggling to get food.

What are some consequences (impacts) of this climate change?

Changes in Earths orbit around the Sun. \n Meteor strikes. \n Volcanic activity/ flood basalts. \n Increased intensity of wildfires \n Rise in sea levels \n Change in weather patterns \n Altered species distribution

What is the Kyoto Protocol? What was the goal? What were the requirements necessary to consider it binding?

UN Conference in Japan, 1997. The goal was to reduce Greenhouse Gas emissions. Needed 55 countries account for 55%+ of 1990 emission levels, for it to become binding.

What is the Paris Agreement? What was the goal? What were the necessary requirements?

Climate deal in Paris, 2015. COP21. Goal was to combat climate change. Limit average temperature increase to 1.5c (KEEP below 2c)

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