Coal Flashcards
What % of global energy is supplied by coal?
25%
List the top 5 countries in terms of coal reserves
- USA
- Russia
- China
- India
- Australia
The 4 main consumers of coal are……
- China
- Europe
- USA
- India
Globally, coal production is …….
Increasing
Between 2000 and 2010, production has increased from….. tonnes to ……. tonnes
5 billion
8 billion
Negatives of coal
- Major source of greenhouse emissions
- Environmental issues of extraction
- Limited supply
Open cast coal mining leads to…..
And because of its bulk requires….
Extreme environmental degradation
Large quantities of energy to transport it from mine to power station
What technique is used to extract coal in West Virginia?
Mountain top removal
What percentage of coal comes from mountain top removal?
40%
How does mountain top removal work?
Coal in high elevation seams in mountains is difficult to access
The cheapest and easiest way is to clear the trees and plant explosives into the rock, to blow up the top of the mountain
How does mountain top removal impact the environment?
- No top soil left, making it impossible for trees and plants to grow
- Minerals in rock released. When it rains, minerals and heavy metals such as mercury and lead are carried into water supplies
- The coal still has to be cleaned which produces chemical sludge that gets into ground water.
Give 3 issues associated with coal smoke
- Sulphur dioxide cab produce acid rain
- Greenhouse gases such as CO2
- Particulates can harm people with heart and breathing issues
Give 4 issues associated with acid deposition
- Can be inhaled by humans through acid fog, leading to cancer and respiratory issues
- Damages stone structures, particularly limestone
- Damages crops
- Released into water ways, where wildlife can be poisoned
How many jobs in the U.S are in the coal industry?
90,000
