All Flashcards
What are the effects of burning coal?
Releases CO2, NOx, SO2, and particulates, contributing to air pollution and climate change.
What are the effects of burning oil?
Releases greenhouse gases like CO, contributing to air pollution and climate change.
What are the effects of burning natural gas?
Releases greenhouse gases, particularly methane, contributing to climate change.
What are the effects of SO2 and NOx emissions?
React with water to form acid rain, damaging ecosystems.
What are the effects of greenhouse gas emissions?
Trap heat, leading to global warming and climate change.
What are the effects of oil spills?
Devastating to marine life and ecosystems.
What are the effects of fracking on groundwater?
Potential contamination of groundwater sources.
What are the effects of fracking on seismic activity?
Increased risk of earthquakes.
What are the effects of methane leaks?
Contributes to global warming due to methane's potency as a greenhouse gas.
What are the effects of habitat disruption from fracking?
Loss of biodiversity and ecosystem services.
Why are fossil fuels considered non-renewable?
They take millions of years to form, making replenishment impossible on a human timescale.
Explain the process of combustion.
Fuel reacts with oxygen, releasing heat, light, and chemical byproducts.
What is incomplete combustion?
Combustion that produces pollutants like carbon monoxide (CO) and soot.
What are the main risks of fracking?
Groundwater contamination, increased earthquake risk, methane leaks, and habitat disruption.
Why is methane a concern?
It is a potent greenhouse gas that contributes to climate change.
What is the role of SO2 and NOx in acid rain?
They react with water in the atmosphere to form sulfuric and nitric acids.
What is the impact of oil spills?
Devastating to marine life and ecosystems.
Why is resource depletion a concern with fossil fuels?
Fossil fuels are non-renewable, and consumption outpaces replenishment.
Why is natural gas considered cleaner than coal?
It releases fewer pollutants when burned, though it still emits greenhouse gases.
What is the significance of greenhouse gases?
They trap heat in the atmosphere, leading to global warming and climate change.
Define fossil fuels.
Non-renewable energy sources formed from ancient organism remains.
Define non-renewable resource.
A resource that cannot be readily replaced by natural means on a level equal to its consumption.
What is coal?
A fossil fuel formed from ancient plant matter.
What is oil (petroleum)?
A fossil fuel formed from ancient aquatic organisms.
What is natural gas?
A fossil fuel mostly composed of methane (CH4), formed from ancient organic matter.
Define combustion.
A chemical reaction that releases energy in the form of heat and light.
What is hydraulic fracturing (fracking)?
Drilling into rock formations and injecting fluid to release trapped oil and gas.
Define air pollution.
The contamination of air by pollutants such as gases and particulate matter.
What is acid rain?
Precipitation containing harmful amounts of nitric and sulfuric acids.
Define climate change.
Long-term shifts in temperatures and weather patterns.