Energy Consumption and Environmental Impacts: A Comparison
Energy Consumption and Environmental Impacts
1. How does per person energy consumption compare in highly developed and developing countries?
Per person energy consumption in highly developed countries far exceeds that of developing countries. In the United States and Canada, annual per person energy consumption can be nearly ten times higher than that of developing countries.
2. Why does surface mining of coal typically cause more environmental harm than subsurface mining?
The acid and toxic mineral drainage, along with the removal of topsoil, prevents most plants from naturally recolonizing the land after surface mining. Surface mining also pollutes streams with sediment and acid mine drainage. Dangerous landslides can occur on hills made unstable due to lack of vegetation after surface mining.
3. What are the environmental impacts of mining and burning coal?
Coal mining causes landslides, acid mine drainage, polluted waterways, and prevents natural recolonization of plants. Coal burning contributes to air pollution and acid deposition. Moreover, burning coal causes a more severe CO2 problem than burning other fossil fuels.
4. Where are oil and natural gas reserves most abundant?
Oil and natural gas are most abundant in the Persian Gulf region. More than half of the world’s total estimated reserves are in Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, United Arab Emirates, and Yemen. Major oil fields also exist in Venezuela, Mexico, Russia, Kazakhstan, Libya, and the United States. Major deposits of natural gas occur in Russia and Iran. Oil and natural gas are least abundant in Western Europe, Canada, and Mexico.
5. What are three environmental problems associated with using oil and natural gas as energy resources?
Environmental problems associated with using oil and natural gas as energy resources include the production of CO2 which can contribute to global climate warming and acid deposition.
6. How does a nuclear reactor produce electricity?
A nuclear reactor initiates and maintains a controlled nuclear fission chain reaction to produce energy for electricity. Fission occurs in the reactor core, and the heat produced by nuclear fission is used to produce steam from liquid water in the steam generator. The turbine uses the steam to generate electricity.
7. What are the environmental effects of generating electricity with conventional nuclear fission, and how do they compare to the environmental effects associated with burning coal?
While generating electricity with conventional nuclear fission reduces the environmental impact on land use, air pollution, and climate change when compared to burning coal, it can have a devastating impact on water pollution and radioactive contamination of the surrounding environment due to spent fuel and/or potential meltdowns.
8. Why is waste disposal an important aspect of nuclear waste management?
Waste disposal is critical to nuclear waste management because as radioisotopes in spent fuel decay, they produce considerable heat and are extremely toxic to organisms for thousands of years.
9. Distinguish among coal, oil, natural gas, and nuclear energy, and compare the environmental impacts of each.
- Coal: The most abundant fossil fuel globally. Utility companies use coal to produce electricity, and heavy industries use it for steel production. Coal mining has substantial negative impacts on the environment, such as acid mine drainage, acid deposition, and overall increased air pollution.
- Petroleum (Crude Oil): A liquid composed of hundreds of hydrocarbon compounds and is often used to produce petrochemicals. Burning oil leads to acid deposition and the formation of photochemical smog. Oil combustion also contributes to the production of CO2 and nitrogen oxides.
- Natural Gas: Has fewer hydrocarbons than petroleum. Natural gas is a relatively clean, efficient source of energy that contains almost no sulfur and releases far less CO2, fewer hydrocarbons, and almost no particulate matter compared to oil and coal. The main environmental impact related to natural gas is the risk of leaks and/or spills due to transport.