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Fossil Fuels
Remains of organisms from millions of years ago Changed through specific heat and pressure over time Coal, oil, natural gas
Problems
Electricity
Fossil fuels burned to boil water Steam turns a turbine Turbine spins metal in a magnetic field (electric generator) Electricity is easily transported
Developed > developing Canada/USA > Japan/Switzerland Low gas taxes in USA & Canada Small country/rail system in Japan & Switzerland
Coal formation
Eastern USA 320 300 million years ago Western USA 100 40 m.y.a. Repeated sediment layers over swamps
Buried remains of marine (ocean) organisms AK, TX, CA, and the Gulf of Mexico
Coal
Mining
Underground
Safer for above Mine fires are dangerous
Surface
Remove entire mountaintops Toxic chemicals into streams
Burning coal
Petroleum
Burning
CO2 Smog Sulfur
Oil spills
Natural Gas
The future
More humans, more demand Slower increase of oil production No new oil reserves in the past decade Deep ocean reserves?