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Question
What are the environmental consequences of using fossil fuels?Suggest the steps to minimise the pollution caused by various sources of energy including non-conventional sources of energy.
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Solution
Many of the environmental problems our country faces today result from our fossil fuel dependence. These impacts include global warming, air quality deterioration, oil spills, and acid rain.
Among the gases emitted when fossil fuels are burned, one of the most significant is carbon dioxide, a gas that traps heat in the earth's atmosphere. Fossil fuels are also implicated in increased levels of atmospheric methane and nitrous oxide, although they are not the major source of these gases.
Several important pollutants are produced by fossil fuel combustion: carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, sulfur oxides, and hydrocarbons. In addition, total suspended particulates contribute to air pollution, and nitrogen oxides and hydrocarbons can combine in the atmosphere to form tropospheric ozone, the major constituent of smog. Carbon monoxide is a gas formed as a by-product during the incomplete combustion of all fossil fuels.
Production, transportation, and use of oil can cause water pollution. Oil spills, for example, leave waterways and their surrounding shores uninhabitable for some time. Such spills often result in the loss of plant and animal life. Coal mining also contributes to water pollution. Coal contains pyrite, a sulfur compound; as water washes through mines, this compound forms a dilute acid, which is then washed into nearby rivers and streams.
During the electricity-generation process, burning fossil fuels produce heat energy, some of which is used to generate electricity. Because the process is inefficient, much of the heat is released to the atmosphere or to water that is used as a coolant. Heated water, once returned to rivers or lakes, can upset the aquatic ecosystem.
Following steps can be suggested to minimize the pollution caused by various sources of energy:
- Avoid misuse of energy can reduce the energy consumption.
- Alternative sources of energy like solar energy, wind energy, hydro energy and energy of sea should or non-renewable source of energy.
- Use of smokeless appliances, Refined technology, Judicious use of energy etc.
Among the gases emitted when fossil fuels are burned, one of the most significant is carbon dioxide, a gas that traps heat in the earth's atmosphere. Fossil fuels are also implicated in increased levels of atmospheric methane and nitrous oxide, although they are not the major source of these gases.
Several important pollutants are produced by fossil fuel combustion: carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, sulfur oxides, and hydrocarbons. In addition, total suspended particulates contribute to air pollution, and nitrogen oxides and hydrocarbons can combine in the atmosphere to form tropospheric ozone, the major constituent of smog. Carbon monoxide is a gas formed as a by-product during the incomplete combustion of all fossil fuels.
Production, transportation, and use of oil can cause water pollution. Oil spills, for example, leave waterways and their surrounding shores uninhabitable for some time. Such spills often result in the loss of plant and animal life. Coal mining also contributes to water pollution. Coal contains pyrite, a sulfur compound; as water washes through mines, this compound forms a dilute acid, which is then washed into nearby rivers and streams.
During the electricity-generation process, burning fossil fuels produce heat energy, some of which is used to generate electricity. Because the process is inefficient, much of the heat is released to the atmosphere or to water that is used as a coolant. Heated water, once returned to rivers or lakes, can upset the aquatic ecosystem.
Following steps can be suggested to minimize the pollution caused by various sources of energy:
- Avoid misuse of energy can reduce the energy consumption.
- Alternative sources of energy like solar energy, wind energy, hydro energy and energy of sea should or non-renewable source of energy.
- Use of smokeless appliances, Refined technology, Judicious use of energy etc.
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