Fossil Fuels: Coal and Oil Formation, Uses, and Impacts
Fossil Fuels: Coal and Oil
Regarding energy, consider fossil fuels: carbon, petrochemicals, and natural gas. Currently, 78% of the commercial energy used worldwide comes from the combustion of fossil fuels. This process produces serious problems of contamination and increases the greenhouse effect due to CO2 emissions and other gases. However, we cannot ignore them until we have alternative energy sources. The sun is a possible alternative. We are gradually replacing fossil fuels with other cleaner
Read MoreUnderstanding Energy Sources: Types, Properties, and Applications
Understanding Energy Sources
Chemical Energy: The energy stored within the atoms that form molecules.
Electrical Energy: The energy resulting from the movement of electric charges.
Nuclear Energy: The energy that holds together the particles within the nuclei of atoms.
Radiant Energy: The energy transported by electromagnetic waves.
Sound Energy: The energy of vibration that travels through air molecules.
Classification of Energy Sources
By Nature:
- Primary Sources: Found in nature (e.g., coal, firewood,
Earth’s Interior: Heat, Volcanoes, Earthquakes, and Plate Tectonics
1. Earth’s Internal Heat
Geothermal Gradient: The Earth’s internal temperature increases with depth. The temperature rises approximately 30°C per kilometer.
Earth’s Internal Heat Source: The Earth’s internal heat originates from collisions during its formation approximately 4.5 billion years ago and from the decay of radioactive elements.
Internal Pressure and Temperature: Both temperature and pressure increase with depth within the Earth.
2. Signals of Earth’s Internal Heat
- Volcanism: Molten rock (
Understanding Natural Hazards and Seismic Risks
3. Classification of Risk Types: Natural, Social, and Technological Hazards. Natural hazards and risks are classified according to the type of agent that produces them: biological (pests and diseases), physical, and geological. Geological hazards include volcanic and seismic events, weather phenomena, etc. Geohazards encompass internal and external geological risks, such as seismic activity, tsunamis, volcanoes, deformation, subsidence, collapses, erosion, gravitational events, glaciers, rivers,
Read MoreUnderstanding Earth’s Atmosphere, Weather, and Climate
Earth’s Atmosphere, Weather, and Climate
Troposphere
The troposphere is the lowest layer of the atmosphere, extending from the ground to an average height of 11 km. It contains approximately 80% of the atmosphere’s total mass of gases and 90% of its water vapor. This is where most meteorological phenomena occur, such as cloud formation, precipitation, and wind.
Other Atmospheric Layers
The other layers of the atmosphere include:
- Stratosphere
- Mesosphere
- Thermosphere
- Exosphere
Unequal Distribution of Solar
Read MoreMetamorphic, Sedimentary, and Igneous Rocks: Types & Formation
Metamorphic Rocks
In some places within the Earth’s interior, rocks are under very high pressures and temperatures, but do not melt. Because of these conditions, the rocks change in texture and composition. These changes are called metamorphism.
Influence of Pressure
Due to the influence of pressure, the holes in the rocks are reduced. If they have crystals, elongated or flattened perpendicular planes are arranged in the dominant pressure direction. This creates sheets, a phenomenon called foliation.
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