Nonrenewable Resources
4 nonrenewable resources: Coal Oil Natural gas Nuclear power
How fossil fuels form: 1.organisms decay in anaerobic conditions 2. Pressure over millions of years Ex: plants die in a swamp, and are covered with sediment, forming coal
Coal facts: Provides 25% of the world’s energy US and China are the leading producers Coal’s advantage over other fossil fuels: Abundant, cheap, easily processed, easily transported
2 types of coal: Anthracite coal “hard “coal highest energy value Lower sulfur content so less polluting expensive Bituminous coal “soft” coal High sulfur content, gives off more pollutants Abundant cheap
Burning coal produces: Carbon dioxide which causes climate change Sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides which cause acid rain
Environmental hazards of mining: 1.Mercury – present in trace amounts in coal may be released when coal is burned causes brain damage 2. Particulate matter- soot released when coal is burned triggers respiratory problems and asthma
3. Acid Drainage – surface mining exposes acids and toxic metals which contaminate waterways
Methods of mining coal: 1.Subsurface (underground) mining 2.Strip mining 3.Mountaintop removal