Briefly discuss the global distribution and consumption of energy
What will be an ideal response?
Answer: The world relies heavily on fossil fuels for nearly all its energy needs. This reliance, however, cannot last indefinitely. Fossil fuels are consumed at rates far exceeding the rates at which they are created in nature. Once they are consumed they are not replaced, making them nonrenewable resources.
Wealthy and industrialized countries typically consume large amounts of energy, while poorer ountries usually consume much less. The U.S. imports roughly half of its needs, western European countries more than half, and Japan more than 90 percent. The major producer nations vary according to fuel. Given our dependence on nonrenewable fossil fuels, it is important to know for how long they will be available. Estimates of the amount of fossil fuels remaining carry a large amount of uncertainty because new deposits remain to be discovered and some deposits may be in forms or places that make them too expensive to recover.
However, we do have some idea what is available. The ratio of reserves to annual production (R/P) is an indication of the number of years the known reserves will last. World R/P ratios for oil and gas are currently 51 and 57 years, respectively, while the ratio for coal is 125 years. Thus we appear to have enough fossil fuels to last decades at least, should we choose to use them.
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The rock type that forms at new seafloor spreading centers is
A. rhyolitic. B. granitic. C. andesitic. D. basaltic.
Which of the following is a correct example of global warming creating a positive feedback?
A. Warming air melts permafrost releasing methane, a natural absorber of potent greenhouse gases. B. Warming oceans release less water vapor, a potent greenhouse gas which absorbs longwave radiation, further increasing temperature. C. Less water evaporating will create more high level clouds causing the surface to warm. D. Warming oceans release more water vapor, a potent greenhouse gas which absorbs longwave radiation, further increasing temperature.
A place located along a windward coast:
A) will probably have cooler summer temperatures than an inland place at the same latitude. B) will probably have summer temperatures that are very similar to an inland place at the same latitude. C) will probably have warmer summer temperatures than an inland place at the same latitude.
Pressure falls when front approaches
What will be an ideal response?