Lesson 4.04 Effects of Fossil Fuels

Carbon dioxide is considered to be one of the major greenhouse gases. Greenhouse gases occur naturally in the atmosphere and are responsible for maintaining the appropriate temperature on Earth. However, humans, through the burning of fossil fuels, are contributing to a rise in greenhouse gas levels. These compounds contribute to the greenhouse effect. You have seen the results of the greenhouse effect when you get into your car on a sunny day. Even in colder weather, it is much warmer inside your car then it is outside. This is because radiant energy has entered your car through the windshield and windows during the day and cannot escape, which causes the temperature to increase. This is the same thing that is occurring in the environment. Carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases in the atmosphere are keeping radiant energy from leaving the Earth's atmosphere causing the overall temperature on Earth to increase.

This gradual increase in the average temperature of the Earth's atmosphere and surface is called global warming. Greenhouse gases occur naturally in the atmosphere, but humans, through the burning of fossil fuels, are contributing to a rise in greenhouse gas levels. As countries have become more technologically advanced, the use of fossil fuels as energy sources has increased, which in turn causes the level of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere to increase. As C0₂ emissions increase, scientists overwhelmingly agree that global warming is increasing at a greater rate than should naturally be occurring.

Global warming is causing the ice caps to melt, which will cause an increase in ocean levels. When ocean levels rise, ocean waters come further inland, destroying habitat for organisms and humans. The reduction in ice caps also reduces the amount of reflection from the Earth, an important factor in the overall temperature of the globe. Global warming can also cause stronger storms, such as hurricanes and droughts.

Read National Geographic: Effects of Global Warming to learn more about the present and future impacts of global warming.

Check out this video from NASA "Sting of Climate Change"(4:58) to see how global warming has affected the "greening" timetable of the globe and how that in turn affects animal behavior. After watching this, do you think this is a serious phenomenon? Read this short article (first 4 paragraphs) on Ocean Acidification to understand the effect of ocean acidification on marine populations. Remember, everything is linked, especially our connection with the ocean. How serious do you think this global activity is?

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Coal is composed of other atoms besides carbon and hydrogen. Coal also has oxygen atoms, nitrogen atoms, sulfur atoms, and metals such as mercury that create harmful byproducts during combustion.

Sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides are the byproducts emitted into the atmosphere when coal is burned. These two byproducts are the main contributing factors to acid rain. These compounds react with water, oxygen, and other chemicals to create various acidic compounds in the atmosphere - sulfuric acid and nitric acid solutions. These acidic solutions fall to the ground in the form of rain, snow, fog or mist.

When acid rain falls to the ground, it enters the surface water causing the acidification of lakes, rivers, streams, and ponds. Acidification affects aquatic wildlife by reducing the population numbers, killing individual organisms, or causing stress on the individual organisms that can lead to lower body weight, size, and inability to successfully reproduce. Acid rain infiltrates the soil causing damage to plants. It also causes damage to man-built structures, such as buildings, monuments, statues, and even automobiles. Acid rain corrodes metal and deteriorates paint and stone. These types of situations lead to increase maintenance costs.

Read Effects of Acid Rain from the EPA to learn more about acid rain.

Another harmful byproduct/pollutant released into the atmosphere during the combustion of coal is mercury. Mercury in the air can settle out and get into water sources directly and indirectly through runoff. When mercury enters water sources, it is transformed into methyl-mercury. This compound can build up in fish and other aquatic organisms that people eat. This toxic compound affects immune systems, damages the nervous system, and alters genetic and enzyme systems.

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Petroleum products emit many of the same pollutants/byproducts as coal, such as sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides that cause acid rain. When oil products are burned, carbon monoxide is another byproduct emitted into the atmosphere. This compound can replace oxygen in the hemoglobin within the lungs causing suffocation. This is why you should never run engines in closed spaces, such as vehicles and generators that are fueled by petroleum products.

Particulate matter (PM) is also released during the combustion of petroleum products. PM is both solid and liquid particles that are emitted into the air and float around. They are the parts of the fossil fuel that does not burn or change to gas. Particulate matter can cause hazy conditions and cause things like asthma, emphysema, and lung cancer. Lead can cause serious health problems in children and are known carcinogens.

Read What is Particulate Matter? to read about the different sizes of PM, where they come from, and problems they can cause.

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