Fossil Fuels

State Performance Indicator

• 0707.7.9 – Evaluate how human activities affect the

condition of the earths land, water, and atmosphere.

Fossil Fuels: Bill Nye

Fossil Fuels

• Definition:– Nonrenewable energy resources formed from the

remains of plants and animals that lived millions of years ago

– Remember…all living things are at least partially made of carbon!

– 3 types of fossil fuels:• Petroleum (liquid)• Natural gas (gas)• Coal (solid)

Petroleum

• Definition:– A liquid mixture of complex hydrocarbon compounds– Also known as crude oil– Must be refined, or processed, to make several

products– Uses:

• Fuels (gasoline, kerosene, jet fuel, etc..)• Styrofoam• Plastic• Synthetic Rubber

Petroleum

• More than 40% of the world’s energy consumption is related to petroleum-based products

Natural Gas

• Definition:– Gaseous mixture of hydrocarbons– Highly flammable– Often found with petroleum deposits

• Uses:– Heat– Butane, propane, etc…

Petroleum & Natural Gas Formation

Petroleum & Natural Gas Formation

• Microscopic sea organisms died millions of years ago.

• Their remains settled on the ocean floor.• Sedimentation occurred.• Heat, pressure, and time slowly changed the

remains into petroleum and natural gas.• This formation is an ongoing process.

Coal

• Definition:– Solid fossil fuel formed from partially decomposed

plant material– Different grades, or kinds, of coal form under

special conditions– Made the Industrial Revolution possible

• Primary Use:– Electricity

Coal Formation• Swamp plants die and sink to the bottom of the

swamp.• The plants partially decompose and form peat, a

brown, crumbly substance made mostly of plant material and water.

• Peat is buried by sediment.• Heat and pressure change peat into coal over millions

of years.

*Think: Is coal sedimentary, metamorphic, or igneous rock?

Check for Understanding

• Name 3 uses for petroleum.

• What is the primary use for natural gas?

• What is the primary use for coal?

Fossil Fuel Issues

Fossil Fuel Issues

• Our modern society relies on fossil fuels.• Unfortunately, they come at a great cost.• In order to understand these costs, consider

the following:1. Extraction (Drilling & Mining)2. Transportation 3. Pollution

Extraction

• Definition– The removal of fossil fuels from their natural

location.

• Methods of extraction depend on the fossil fuel.

• Examples:– Coal mining– Oil drilling (on & offshore)

Mountaintop Removal

Mountaintop Removal

Strip Mining

BP Spill – Gulf of Mexico

BP Gulf Oil Spill

BP Gulf Oil Spill

Transportation

• After fossil fuels have been extracted, they are transported around the world.

• During transportation, accidents and natural disasters can result in major spills.

• Examples:– Exxon Valdez

Exxon Valdez

Exxon Valdez

Kingston Coal Ash Spill

Kingston Coal Ash Spill

Kingston Coal Ash Spill

Pollution

Pollution

• Remember that ALL fossil fuels contain carbon.

• When fossil fuels are burned, they release carbon into the atmosphere, often in the form of carbon dioxide.

• Carbon dioxide is one of the major contributing pollutants of global climate change.

Pollution

• When fossil fuels are burned, other pollutants are also released into the atmosphere.

• Examples:– Mercury– Nitrogen oxides– Sulfur oxides– Carbon monoxide– Particulates– Ozone– Methane

Effects of Pollution from Fossil Fuels

• Acid Precipitation• Smog• Lung disease• Neurological disease• Global Climate Change