Fossil fuels effects

The maximum age definable by radiocarbon depends on minimum measurement levels. Using conventional techniques this was limited to around eight half-lives, extended to 60 000 years by enrichment techniques. With the advent of AMS it was hoped to extend this to 70000 or 80000 years, but such figures have yet to be routinely obtained. Minimum age is complicated to define the fossil fuel effect means that... 

Fossil fuel effect Reduction in C activity in the 19th and 20th century due to the combustion of fossil fuels. Also known as the Suess and Industrial Effect. 

Burning of any hydrocarbon (fossil fuel) or, for that matter, any organic material converts its carbon content to carbon dioxide and its hydrogen to water. Because power plants and other industries emit large amounts of carbon dioxide, they contribute to the so-called greenhouse warming effect on our planet, which causes significant en-... 

The tiansition from a choice of multiple fossil fuels to various ranks of coal, with the subbituminous varieties a common choice, does in effect entail a fuel-dependent size aspect in furnace design. A controlling factor of furnace design is the ash content and composition of the coal. If wall deposition thereof (slagging) is not properly allowed for or controlled, the furnace may not perform as predicted. Furnace size varies with the ash content and composition of the coals used. The ash composition for various coals of industrial importance is shown in Table 3. 

Development of molybdenum electrodes in the 1950s permitted the use of electrically assisted melting in regenerative furnaces (81). In the 1990s, approximately one-half of all regenerative tanks ate electrically boosted. Operating practice has shown that effective use of electricity near the back end of the furnace, where the batch is added, can reduce fossil fuel needs. This lowers surface temperature and reduces batch volatilisation. 

The use and effective costs of various energy alternatives are shown in Table 2. Use or internal costs include production, transportation, and distribution. Effective costs take into account the use costs estimated external costs, which include costs associated with damage to the environment caused by utili2ation of various fossil fuels and fuel utili2ation efficiencies, ie, the efficiency of converting fuels into mechanical, electrical, or thermal energy. The effective costs are expressed as /GJ of fossil fuel equivalent (15). The overall equation for the effective cost is... 

Carbon. Most of the Earth s supply of carbon is stored in carbonate rocks in the Hthosphere. Normally the circulation rate for Hthospheric carbon is slow compared with that of carbon between the atmosphere and biosphere. The carbon cycle has received much attention in recent years as a result of research into the possible relation between increased atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration, most of which is produced by combustion of fossil fuel, and the "greenhouse effect," or global warming. Extensive research has been done on the rate at which carbon dioxide might be converted to cellulose and other photosyntheticaHy produced organic compounds by various forms of natural and cultivated plants. Estimates also have been made of the rate at which carbon dioxide is released to soil under optimum conditions by various kinds of plant cover, such as temperature-zone deciduous forests, cultivated farm crops, prairie grassland, and desert vegetation. 

Even rain is not pure water. Reports from the U.S. Geological Survey show that it contains 2.3—4.6 ppm of soflds, or a yearly precipitation of 2.5—5 t/km. Recently (ca 1997), work conducted ia the United States and Europe has underscored the rather dangerous results of iacreased use of fossil fuels, where the SO and NO emissions that end up ia the rain lower its pH from 5.6 (slightly acidic) for uncontaminated rain, to acid rains. Such acid rain has serious effects on surface waters (1). About 40 x 10 t of SO and 25 x 10 t of NO were emitted ia the United States ia 1980. There are, however, encouragiag trends the 1970 Clean Air Act has led to a gradual reduction ia these emissions, bringing the SO emissions down from the previous levels cited by 10% by 1990, and the NO emissions down by 6%, with a consequent slight decrease ia rain acidity. A part of the Clean Air Act is also iatended to cap SO emissions from major poiat sources at 13.5 x 10 t (2). Between 1994 and 1995, total SO emissions ia the U.S. decreased remarkably by 13% and total NO emissions by 8%. 

Acid deposition is a regional problem wherever large amounts of fossil fuels are consumed. There have been significant efforts in both Europe and North America to reduce acid deposition because of its many deleterious effects. This effort has focused mainly on the reduction of SO, emissions. In the future acid deposition tvill have to be addressed in eastern Asia, where rapid industrialization and increased use of fossil fuels is likely. 

The two major ways by which humans get energy is to either burn fossil fuels or to burn wood for fuel. Both contribute substantially to air pollution, and both can have serious effects on (1) the health of plants and animals and (2) the workings of Earth s atmosphere. 

See also Acid Rain Air Pollution Atmosphere Carson, Rachel Climatic Effects Disasters Environmental Economics Fossil Fuels Gasoline and Additives Gasoline Engines Government and the Energy Marketplace Nuclear Fission Nuclear Fusion Nuclear Waste. 

Fossil fuels are a nonrenewable resource. Whatever fossil fuel we use in the present will be forever lost to posterity. Is this fair The harmful effects of global warming are unlikely to occur tor many years. Should we care Is it ethical to take risks... 

Implementation of the 1998 Kyoto Protocol, which is designed to reduce global carbon emissions, will have dramatic effects on fossil fuel usage worldwide. The Kyoto Protocol mostly affects delivered prices for coal and conversion of plants to natural gas, nuclear and/or renewable resources. However, as pointed out by the International Energy Agency, increased natural gas consumption in the United States may likely have the effect of increased reliance... 

Sulfur dioxide emissions resulting from fossil fuel can have negative effects on urban air quality and create acid rain that harms aquatic life. These emissions arc nonexcludable in that there is no private action that a particular individual can take to avoid this impact, and they are nonrival in that their effect on any one individual does not preclude or offset their effect on any other. 

See also Climatic Effects Fossil Fuels Gasoline and Additives Governmental Inteiwention in Energy Markets Liquefied Petroleum Gas Methane Natural Gas, Processing and Conversion of Natural Gas, Transportation, Distribution, and Storage of Oil and Gas, Exploration for Oil and Gas, Production of Risk Assesment and Management. 

---