Briefly discuss trends in natural gas and coal usage around the world
What will be an ideal response?
Answer: Natural gas is important in many areas as the (relatively) clean-burning fuel of choice for the residential, commercial, and industrial sectors. Gas resources are related to oil resources in that regions that have one tend to have the other, although the quantities vary considerably. Gas is harder to ship across the sea than is oil, so proximity to markets is especially important. Gas production has provided fuel for much of the growth in electricity production that has occurred in the last 30 years.
In Europe, Russia's role in supplying the energy needs of Western Europe has grown dramatically. In recent years, gas production has expanded in the U.S. using a technique called hydrofracking, which allows the extraction of gas from rocks that previously were not considered usable resources. The method is controversial because it may cause contamination of groundwater. However, gas burns cleaner than coal or oil, and it emits less carbon dioxide per unit of heat than other fossil fuels.
World coal reserves are more abundant than oil or gas. Coal plays an important role in providing coal-rich countries such as China and the United States with energy because it is used mainly to produce electricity. Several problems hinder expanded use of coal, including air pollution and land and water impacts. Coal is a major contributor to CO2 emissions and to acid deposition, which occurs when sulfur and nitrogen oxides combine with water to form acidic precipitation. Mining also damages the land from which coal is extracted. Technologies may be developed that will allow us to use coal cleanly, but they will be expensive and may not be fully effective.
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You would like to live more simply and lightly on the earth, and are keeping this in mind as you consider some additions to your wardrobe. What is the best choice of the following options?
a. You decide to purchase a sweater from an outdoor clothing company that is rather pricey, but donates a share of its profits to several environmental groups. b. You decide to purchase a sweater from Macy's that is on sale, and is marked down $40 . You will use the $40 for the cost of a membership in an environmental group. c. You decide to purchase a sweater from a clothing company that uses sustainable methods in acquiring the materials for their clothing. d. You decide to purchase a sweater from an internet-based company that employs women in developing countries to make the sweaters. e. You decide to forego the new sweater, and try to make do with what you have for at least another year.
Which of the following describes a hurricane warning?
A. It indicates when a hurricane approaches to within 500 km of the mainland. B. It indicates the location where a hurricane is forecasted to make landfall. C. It indicates the probability that a hurricane's centre will pass within 100 km of a location. D. It is issued whenever surface wind speeds exceed 120 km/h.
Define the Coriolis effect. Which direction does Coriolis deflect winds? What does the word
"apparent" mean in the definition? What will be an ideal response?
Rising per capita consumption of goods and rising population growth lead to ________
A) more resource extraction, waste and pollution B) increased biodiversity and ecosystem services C) greater availability of goods to poorer nations and people D) steady-state economics E) less fossil fuel use and global climate change