Fossil Fuels and Climate Change

A list of vocabulary flashcards related to fossil fuels and their impact on climate change.

Fossil Fuels

Natural substances made from decomposed plants and animals, which produce greenhouse gases when burned.

Adaption

Adjusting practices or processes to accommodate climate changes.

Mitigation

Efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

EROEI (Energy Return on Energy Investment)

The ratio of useful energy obtained from a resource to the energy invested in obtaining that energy.

Natural Gas

A fossil fuel that produces fewer greenhouse gases than coal and is used primarily for heating.

Coal

A sedimentary deposit made mostly of carbon, which produces twice the greenhouse gases compared to natural gas.

Oil

A liquid fossil fuel refined from crude oil, used for energy and as a base for plastics.

Greenhouse Gases (GHGs)

Gases that trap heat in the atmosphere and contribute to climate change.

Fractional Distillation

A process that separates different components of crude oil for use.

Diluted Bitumen (Dilbit)

A mixture of bitumen and lighter hydrocarbons that allows oil to flow through pipelines.

Nova Scotia Energy Sources

In Nova Scotia, the energy mix consists of 55% coal, 18% natural gas, 13% wind, and 5% hydro.