Chapter 19 fossil fuels

What are oil sands also called?

Tar sands.

What is bitumen?

A viscous, tarry type of petroleum found in oil sands.

What must companies do to extract oil from oil sands?

Clear forest, strip-mine land, mix deposits with hot water and chemicals, and store wastewater in toxic tailings lakes.

What is the EROI concept?

Energy returned on investment; it assesses energy sources based on the energy obtained versus the energy invested.

What is the primary method of coal extraction?

Strip mining, subsurface mining, and mountaintop removal.

What is a major environmental concern of oil extraction?

Contamination of groundwater and habitat destruction.

What technology pumps chemically treated water under high pressure into rock layers?

Hydraulic fracturing.

What are the main fossil fuels derived from marine plankton?

Oil and natural gas.

What is the reserves-to-production (R/P) ratio?

A calculation dividing the total remaining reserves by the annual rate of production.

What environmental impact is associated with mountaintop mining?

Extensive soil erosion.

How do fossil fuels contribute to climate change?

By liberating long-term reservoirs of carbon as carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas.

What is the rebound effect?

The phenomenon where improvements in efficiency lead to increased energy consumption.

What are clean coal technologies?

Techniques aimed at removing chemical contaminants during electricity generation from coal.

What alternative fuel sources are considered renewable?

Biomass energy, hydropower, solar energy, wind energy, geothermal energy, tidal energy.

What factor has increased the accessibility of unconventional fossil fuel sources?

Technological advancements such as hydraulic fracturing.

What is the primary use of coal?

Electricity generation.

What major oil pipeline connects oil sands oil to the U.S.?

Keystone XL Pipeline.

What can we assess to determine the economic viability of fossil fuels?

Costs of extraction and market prices.

What are the primary health risks associated with fossil fuel emissions?

Mercury exposure, acid precipitation, and carcinogenic compounds.

What does energy efficiency refer to?

The ability to obtain a given amount of output while using less energy input.

What does energy conservation involve?

Reducing wasteful or unnecessary energy use through behavioral choices.

What are the long-term impacts of fossil fuel extraction on local communities?

Economic booms followed by environmental degradation and legacy pollution.