Fossil Fuels

Fossil Fuels
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Introduction
Fossil fuels have been used for many centuries around the world. All of us have heard the debates and discussion regarding global warming, clean energy, alternative energy sources, and the impacts of fossil fuels on the environment. The fact remains that fossil fuels are tortuously woven into the framework of our everyday lives in both subtle and obvious ways. From the electricity we use to the shelters people live in, clothes they wear, consumer goods they enjoy and the motorized transport facilities they use, fossil fuels are a primary building block of the modern life as we understand it. Most of us have the notion that the widespread use of the resources has immensely improved the life in the entire world by creating meaningful and productive lives that we are accustomed to. It is undeniable that fossil fuel has incredibly benefited humankind. However, for so long people have only looked at the benefits and failed to notice the long-term effects they are subjected to as a result of fossil fuel use. Although it has created the current globalization as we perceive it, there are critical adverse effects that cannot be overlooked if we were to have a healthier and safer environment. This research on fossil fuels seeks to enlighten me on how to become a more responsible steward of our environment. The research focuses on the risks of fossil fuel consumption on society at the personal, national, and international levels.

It will also reflect on the impacts of technology while assessing the role of technology in creating the problems and how it can be used for a positive impact. Lastly, it will delve into ways to minimize the risks and the future of energy production.
Risks of Fossil Fuel Consumption
Fossil fuel is undoubtedly a vital commodity in the current socioeconomic and industrial sector. Its input in the larger economies cannot be ignored given that it is a leading steward for most motorized equipment operations. However, human influence on the environmental system is immense and clear. The continued emission of greenhouse gasses is almost causing long-lasting changes in all components of the climate system (Dozier, 2016). Current reports reveal that there has been an increased release of carbon and sulfur related gasses into the atmosphere which is closely associated with the current climate changes. It is further indicated that the levels of carbon emission within the energy system arises from the generation, distribution, and transmission of the fossil fuels. Despite the current campaign on adoption of renewable energy, fossil fuel maintains its dominance over the global energy consumption. Its effects continue to impact on people’s lives rather adversely and quickly of late.
Fossil fuel is a general term referring to those fuels that are formed naturally through processes such as decomposition of dead organisms (“Fossil Fuel Facts”). Many people perceive petroleum products as the fossil fuel. However, it includes other natural energy sources formed from fossilized remains such as coal and natural gas. According to Bloch (2009), “coal provides over 23% of global primary energy needs and generates around 39% of the world’s electricity”. A larger percentage of this energy is produced in America to date. While other states have moved to more renewable sources of energy coal made a 92% contribution of energy in the US in the year 2013. It has been in use since 1900 indicating the immense extent to which the coal mines and industrial effluents have impacted on our climate. However, the single fossil fuel that has significantly affected us is the crude oil. The transport sector forms the biggest consumers of the crude oil by-products. Combustion of the crude oil products and the other fossil fuels promote to what is referred as the greenhouse effect. This is an effect that causes an increase in temperature all over the globe.
Burning of fossil fuels causes the release of either the carbon gasses (carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide) and sulfur related gasses (sulfur IV oxide and sulfur III oxide). Further, they also release water vapor, nitrous oxides, and methane gasses all that are constituents of greenhouse gasses. When these gasses are released into the atmosphere, they form a blanket within the ozone layer. Naturally, the sun’s radiations ought to be reflected back into space after striking the ground. The greenhouse gasses trap more than the required radiations thus making the earth warmer. This causes the land to absorb more heat. According to Griggs (2015), “if all remaining fossil fuel were burnt at once, almost all the ice in the Antarctica would melt causing the sea level to rise by as much as 200 feet”. These indicate the amount of heat this carbon can produce. In the last decade itself, the temperatures have increased from an average of 13.6 oC to 14.6 oC a change that can be associated with the growth of the industrial sector. According to the report by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), carbon dioxide contributes 64.3% of the greenhouse gasses where methane seconds with 17%. Carbon dioxide comes from practices like the burning of fossil fuels to produce electricity and heat buildings, use of crude oil products to run industrial machines and minor activities like cutting down trees using power saws and cooking. However, the largest producer of CO2 is burning of petroleum and other engine fuels. The transportation sector contributes 26% of the greenhouse gasses where 30% comes from electricity production, 12% from commercial and residential operations and 21% from industrial processes.
Some of the adverse side effects of temperature changes as a result of fossil fuel consumptions are changing seasons. In many parts of the world, seasons are reversing in unpredictable rates. This has left many farmers unstable hence causing global food shortages. A further deficiency is brought about by the many droughts that different regions are experiencing due to alterations of the hydrological cycles.
Another effect of fossil fuel consumption and especially coal is the acid mine drainage. Besides endangering the lives of the miners, the process destructs extensive areas of land leaving it bare and full of ditches (“Fossil Fuels: Their Advantages and Disadvantages,” 2016). When it rains, water flows from the abandoned coal mines sites with the rocks containing pyrite, a sulfur-bearing mineral, to stream, rivers, and lakes. When this sulfur reacts with water and air, it forms sulfuric acid. Further, iron is also dissolved, and upon reaction, weak acids are formed. These are washed to lakes and rivers. The acid affects the environment in three ways. First, upon drinking the acidic water, it burns the inside causing death or other ailments like ulcers. Any other living organism that consumes the water could die. Secondly, upon absorption of the water, the soil becomes too acidic for plants to grow (“15 Most Notable Advantages and Disadvantages of Fossil Fuels”, 2016). This results in desert conditions. Finally, on evaporation, the acid combines with the air to form a stronger solution that comes down as acid rain. It has a wider impact as it reaches an extended area than the downwashes.
Technology has greatly promoted the consumption of fossil fuel. Transportation is the most hit sector. Currently, everyone wants to own a car. As a result, the manufacturing companies have devised lower engine consumptions rates which have reduced the cost of cars by far. Everyone is deceived that by using vehicles consuming little fuel, they are helping reduce the carbon content in the air. The truth is, the cheaper the cars are, the more the people own them. With everyone one driving, then the amount of fuel burnt daily will increase. This is what has been causing an increase in the carbon and sulfur content in the air day-in-day-out. At the same time, the manufacturing companies are opening more branches so as to meet the customers’ demands. As a result, the electricity consumption is going up. Further, many companies have led to the use of fuel-driven machines. This combined with the fuel burnt by the diesel-electric power plants contribute to the release of more carbon gasses. Technology has also turned us into a consumer economy. As many people are migrating to the urban centers, the agricultural production is being abandoned. As a result, many depend on processed food and foodstuffs. It has also called for the development of multiple companies. The more the industrial sector is growing, the more the fuel consumption is and hence the higher the impacts.
Technologies have changed in the harvesting and processing of the fossil fuels. This has significantly impacted the effects these fuels have on the environment. According to Roland(1998), recent technologies such as the combined-cycle gas turbines have helped capture the economies of scale thereby making it competitive with other fuels like coal. Adding such economic attractiveness brings about increased purchase and use of gasses. Further, the 3D seismic method makes explorations more accurate despite the process being expensive. This has contributed to an addition of reserves from 42% to 70%. There have also been faster transportation means of both the gas and petroleum products. Currently, the pipeline system can transfer millions of liters of oil from one country to another. These balances demand and supply making it easier for people to access the commodities.
Minimizing Fossil Fuel Risks
Although there has been large dependence on fossil fuels, we must try to be cautious about their effects for the current and future generations. The deviation to other environmentally friendly sources of energy is the solution. There is a range of alternative sources of energy that can produce an equal amount of fossil fuels. The primary sources of renewable energy are the sun, wind, water and atom. Neither of these sources has been exploited to a great scale. To reduce the household grid consumption, every home should be required to own a solar panel. Solar produce as much power as fossil fuels. People can use it to light their homes, heat water and even drive machines. The sector has not yet stabilized though given, and many people do not consider it as a reliable source of energy. Current innovation should embark on making solar that do not depend on sun only but heat.
On the other hand, more hydropower forms a reliable and renewable supply of power. In Germany, it contributes more than 70% of the total power. This has also been embraced by China who has built two of the world’s largest dams. Hydropower goes parallel with environmental conservation. Rivers originate from water catchment areas that happen to be indigenous forests. For any country to have a continuous supply of water in the rivers, they must first conserve these forests and the hydrological cycle. In the process of guarding the sources, the carbon content is lowered from the atmosphere hence forming a cleaner environment. Future technology should embark on harnessing hydroelectric power from oceans and tidal waves.
Doing away with fossil fuels comes at an additional cost. It includes the elimination of all combustible engine cars and industrial machines. One sector that could be worst hit is the transport sector where more than 90% of all locomotives use fossil fuels. There have been tremendous advances to eliminate the need for petrol and diesel gradually. This has been through the development of hybrid and purely electric cars. Although they are not as efficient as fuel driven vehicles, use of electric cars would eliminate dependence on fossil fuels. On the one hand, less fuel will be burnt and hence lesser effluents will be released to the atmosphere. Other electric locomotives like electric train will reduce the dependence on roads. As a result, many people will disregard the need to own a car for the public transport means.
Rather than starting with climate change and expressing the problem as a greenhouse emission, it would be more efficient to consider the fossil fuel problem as one of eliminating the excess carbon. This simplifies the process of finding a solution. According to Flickr (2016), we cannot minimize the carbon content in the atmosphere without an intact boreal forest. It is reported that the forest holds over 22% of the global carbon. Trees help take in carbon and release oxygen that is required for human and animal survival. Upsetting the ecosystem and allowing the extra carbon into the atmosphere will only downcast the efforts to mitigate global warming. Keeping the boreal forest is thus significant in the fight against global warming. Clearing of forests increases the carbon content in two ways. First, it unlocks the carbon stored in the soil. Nodules in the roots help to capture carbon and store it in the ground. Once trees are cleared, all the carbon held is released to the atmosphere. This happens gradually, and the extent cannot be quantified. As a way to prevent the carbon release, people should be motivated to plant more trees.
A dramatic transformation in the energy sector cannot occur if people are not trained on utility spending. Our high energy requirements are as a result of inefficiency on how we spend power. Most of our electronics, bulbs, and vehicles all consume too much than expected. Power efficiency can be improved by changing to energy saving products such as low power bulbs, electronic appliances and industrial machines (Hjorth, 2008). Some of the recent innovations include LED electronics like torches, TVs, and bulbs that consume up to 90% less power. The engineers should, however, invest in power storage. This is a field that has not yet been cracked. Up to date, there are no stable methods to store energy except the use of batteries for minor electronic appliances.
The Future of Energy Production
Alternative energy is a safer concept when one thinks of the global society. When selecting alternative sources, we must consider whether they are renewable, unlimited in supply and have few side effects. Some of the alternatives include wind energy, solar energy, and hydro or thermal energy. According to Nelder (2009), fossil fuels are bound to come to peak soon. This could be accelerated by the introduction of the other cheaper sources of energy. Once people adopt the clean energy, production of fossil fuel will become very expensive and difficult to extract. At the same time, the oil fields are being depleted gradually meaning that in the next century, there will be no enough fossil fuels and the remaining will be rationed.
The future of energy production is thus not on the fossil fuel but clean energy sources. According to Lamb (2016), this is depending highly on the political momentum, especially in the first world and second world countries. Most of these countries have passed the clean energy bills that are bound to be implemented in due time. One of these agreements is the 50 percent clean power generation passed by Canada’s prime minister Justin Trudeau, Obama and Mexican President Pena Nieto. They agreed to clean energy innovation and deployment, as well as improved energy efficiency (Furman and Brian, 2016 ). The only remaining challenge is to re-localize production and embrace the clean energy revolution. According to Singh (2015), the fossil fuel demand from the largest economies is starting to fall due to improving efficacies. The economies have already taken wide steps in implementing the climate strategies that include transiting away from coal. Some of the leading nations are China, Japan, and Germany who have all disregarded use of coal and petroleum products as their source of energy. Currently, China is deriving most of its power from hydro-generating plants, the wind, and solar energy. This has also been adopted by Germany who has initiated massive wind power harvesting projects. There can be no future of energy production if the topic of environmental conservation is not included. The move that has been initiated by China, Germany and America is about to be introduced in all other countries including the Middle East nations who are the primary producers of the world’s crude oil. Countries are about to sign environmental conservation treaties that will have stipulated the global move towards renewable energy.
Conclusion
Pollution is a problem that is affecting everyone. Each one of us must stand against all processes that promote pollution either directly or indirectly. This begins by identifying and disregarding those practices that are not environmentally friendly. As consumers, engineers, or scientists, it is important to understand the good and bad of what type of fuel we consume every day. We must be able to make decisions concerning what type of fossil fuels to use or not. If we are to eradicate the greenhouse effect, we must all work towards disregarding as much carbon releasing fuels as possible. No single solution can curb this problem. However, through prospective innovations and application of stiff policies, we can visualize an environmentally clean future.
References
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Flickr, G. (2016). Why We Can’t Fight Climate Change without an Intact Boreal Forest. NRDC. Retrieved 19 November 2016, from https://www.nrdc.org/stories/why-we-cant-fight-climate-change-without-intact-boreal-forest
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